Tuesday, November 26, 2013

Grace for your spirit November 26, 2013

Grace for your spirit
Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and do not let your heart be glad when he stumbles, lest the Lord see it and be displeased, and He turn His anger away from him.  
Proverbs 24:17-18

We live in a world where people are filled with anger, unforgiveness, and the need for revenge.  A world that hopes bad things will happen to their enemies. It should never be this way for the people of God, but sometimes it is that way.  Revenge belongs only to the Lord.  When we take it, we are stealing it from Him.  We can never know what the Lord is doing in their lives, so let's be careful about our emotions. Jesus taught us to pray for our enemies, and pray for blessings, not curses.

Friday, November 22, 2013

Grace for your spirit November 25, 2013

Grace for your spirit
For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened.   Romans 1:21

People see God in different ways, even making up their own gods to fit their lifestyles..The Bible says God has revealed His true nature, and power through the things that have been made.  People often ignore God's word and disguise His presence.  Will wrong perceptions about God, or dullness be a good excuse at the judgment?  God has planted within us the sense to know Him and obey Him.  If we choose to ignore all of that, He says we will be without excuses.  When our life choices are against God's word, which path will we choose?  Choose God, honor Him, and be thankful.

Thursday, November 21, 2013

Grace for your spirit November 22, 2013

Grace for your spirit 
And the master said to the slave, 'Go out into the highways and along the hedges, and compel them to come in, so that my house may be filled.  Luke 14:23

Jesus let us know in this parable that getting people to enjoy the riches of His kingdom is often very difficult.  We put up a nice sign on our building that says, "Lost sheep welcome", yet most people won't learn, they must be taught.  Most people won't come alone, they must be brought. What is next step after we have extended the invitation?  Jesus said to go back and compel them to come in.  Compelling requires enthusiasm and persistence.  Is the extra effort worth it?  Let's dig a little deeper and find a compelling reason to keep going.

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Grace for your spirit November 21, 2013

Grace for your spirit

David the son of Jesse declares, the man who was raised on high declares, the anointed one of the God of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel, "The Spirit of the Lord spoke by me, and His word was on my tongue.  II Samuel 23:1-2

David is known for his psalms, and this passage is called "David's last song".  David's last words were the words of God on his tongue.  This is in stark contrast of many people, like Ananias and Sapphira recorded in Acts 5.  The last words on their tongues were lies, after their hearts were filled by Satan.  The lied to the Holy Spirit and the apostles, and they died immediately.  Somebody said the famous last words of many people are, "Hey ya'll, watch this!!!"  May we all make a commitment to leave this world praising God, not cursing Him.  The way we speak everyday, will probably be our last words too.

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Grace for your spirit November 20, 2013

Grace for your spirit
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good work, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.  Ephesians.  2:10

Remember the old hymn, "To the work, to the work, we are servants of God.  Let us follow the path that our Master has trod."  God created us in Christ to walk in good works.  Are we afraid we might fail? Airplanes might crash, ships might sink, but statistics prove they will last longer if they fly and go to sea.  Airplanes rust out in a hanger. Ship rot out in dock.  Besides that, they were not made to stay in the hanger or by the dock.  As Christians, would we rather wear out, or rust out?  Let's do what we were created for in Christ and let the Lord provide.  

Monday, November 18, 2013

Grace for your spirit November 19, 2013

Grace for your spirit
And there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.  Ephesians 5:4

 When Jesus is in our heart, there should be change of heart, change of mind, and change of speech. New man, new mouth. When someone wants to tell me a joke, I always say, "Good, I am looking for a good story for my sermon on Sunday."  If it isn't fit to preach it in church services, I don't want it in my brain at all."  Why can the vilest person know what kind of humor is inappropriate, but the church member does not?  Most will decline to tell me the joke, and I'm glad.  I certainly don't want to hear it from church members.  Let's be discerning about our speech

Friday, November 15, 2013

Grace for your spirit November 16, 2013

Grace for your spirit
For the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ.  Ephesians 4:12

It takes skills, leadership, and plans to build a building right.  Anyone can tear it down.  The same is true with the body of Christ.  The saints need to be trained and equipped with knowledge, love, and leadership.  Anyone can tear it down.  There was a kids movie called. "Wreck it Ralph."  Fix it Felix built things up and Wreck it Ralph tore it down. Whether we do anything or not, we are either a fixer or a wrecker. Let's prepare to build rather than sitting by to tear down the work of others.

Thursday, November 14, 2013

What to expect at the Northwest Church of Christ

The church building is located on U.S 41 North at Florida Avenue. Just 1/2 mile north of the 41/63 interchange in Terre Haute, Indiana

Sunday Bible Classes: 9:30 AM
Sunday Worship 10:30 AM:
Sunday Evening 6:00 PM:
Wednesday Study 7:00 PM:

Radio Programs
93.7 FM at 7:40 AM & 4:40 PM Tuesday, Thursday & and Sunday's sermon replayed on Wednesday at 7:00 AM

Help for those in need
Right after Thanksgiving, we will begin to collect food for Christmas food baskets.  Any non perishable items that have a holiday flavor are welcome, including canned hams.
We will also begin collecting hats, gloves, scarves, and socks for elementary students.    These will be distributed right after the Christmas break.
BELIEF STATEMENT
We are a fellowship of believers in Christ who believe in one all powerful, all knowing, ever present God. We believe the Bible is God's inspired word, and provides our only standard of right and wrong.

We believe that Jesus Christ, God's Son, died for our sins all the cross, was buried, and rose from the dead for our justification. We believe that mankind is lost without the saving blood of Jesus and that He is the only way to the Father

We believe that saving faith includes repentance, and baptism for the forgiveness of our sins. We believe the baptized believer is a member of the Lord's church and the kingdom of God.

We believe that the Christians should worship properly and share the good news of Jesus until He returns with out heavenly reward

At worship you may expect joyous acappella singing,prayers,communion services, and a lesson from the Bible every Sunday Expect our worship to be warm, uplifting, and orderly, praising the Lord.

Everyone is always welcome. We hope you will be spiritually enriched by your worship visit

Grace for your spirit November 15, 2013

Grace for your spirit  
Go then, eat your bread in happiness and drink your wine with a cheerful heart, for God has already approved your works. Ecclesiastes 9:7

King Solomon had tried almost everything to find happiness and satisfaction in life.  Everything from excess work to excess pleasure, and nothing seemed to work. At the end, he realized the secret was fearing God and keeping His commandments. He found the secret to happiness was walking approved of God.  An old camp song we used to sing says it very well.
"Happiness is to know the Savior.   Living a life within His favor.
Having a change in my behavior.    Happiness is the Lord."
So, the key to happiness is the Lord on our lives.  
Have a happy and cheerful day.

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

Grace for your spirit November14, 2013

Grace for your spirit
So they gave out to the sons of Israel a bad report of the land which they had spied out, saying, "The land through which we have gone in spying it out, is a land that devours its inhabitants; and all the people whom we saw in it are men of great size." Numbers 13:32

Do you know who any of these men are?  Shammua, Shaphat, Igal, Palti, Gaddiel, Gaddi, Ammiel, Sethur, Nahbi, Geuel,  Of the 12 men that were selected to spy out the land of Canaan, these are the names of the 10 that did not trust in God for victory.  Their bad report turned Israel around, back to idolatry, and death in the wilderness. Two of the spies believed God would give them victory but they were out shouted. They were Joshua and Caleb.  Do our words move people toward God or the other way?  Let's be remembered for our uplifting words.

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Grace for your spirit November 13, 2013

Grace for your spirit  
Zaccheus stopped and said to the Lord, "Behold, Lord, half of my possessions I will give to the poor, and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will give back four times as much.  Luke 19:8

The kids song about Zaccheus only lets us know that he was a wee little man in a tree, and took Jesus home with him.  It is sad that's all the story we get.  In fact, Jesus and Zaccheus went in gladness while other grumbled.  Jesus in his home transformed his life.  Yesterday Zaccheus was a rich, crooked tax collector, then Jesus changed his heart and his direction in life.  He invited Jesus home, he allowed Jesus to change his heart, and that changed his heart for his enemies and the poor.  Let's let Jesus into our lives, our home, our heart, and enjoy the change. 

Monday, November 11, 2013

Grace for your spirit November 12, 2013

Grace for your spirit 
But they did not understand this statement, and they were afraid to ask Him.  Mark 9:32

Any student that adopts this attitude is on the path of failing.  Have we ever been such a student?  We weren't getting the material, but we didn't want to ask a question and look stupid?  We don't look any better when we fail the test.  This was true of Jesus' disciples.  They didn't know, they didn't ask, and they failed their tests.  Let's resolved to do better.  When we have a question, usually someone else has the same question and is afraid to ask too.  Let's do ourselves a favor and a favor for them too.

Friday, November 8, 2013

Grace for your spirit November 11, 2013

Grace for your spirit
But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and whoever says to his brother, 'You good-for-nothing,' shall be guilty before the supreme court, and whoever says, 'You fool,' shall be guilty enough to go into  the fiery hell.  Matthew 5:22

A preacher opened a letter with one word on it. FOOL !  He told his congregation he had received many letters unsigned, but this was the first one with no letter than was signed.   Somebody called him a fool and he called him a fool right back.  Who was right?  Neither was right because none of us has the right to call anyone a fool.  We don't know all the facts about anyone.  However, when God called us a fool, we really are one.  Yes, "the fool has said in his heart, there is no God." Psalm 14:1

Thursday, November 7, 2013

Grace for your spirit November 8, 2013

Grace for your spirit
In everything I showed you that by working hard in this manner you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, "It is more blessed to give than to receive.  Acts 20:35

God is a giver, Christ was a giver, and He instilled the joy of giving in all His servants.  The apostle Paul was a giver, and he labored to instill that principle of Christian maturity in others by word and deed.  Those who never reach spiritual maturity will never understand the blessing of sacrificial giving.  When we are children, we only think about what we will receive in presents, but as we mature we find more joy in giving than receiving.  If we are only in the church for what we can get out of it, we have missed the point.  The blessing is in the giving. Let's be givers.

Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Grace for your spirit November 7, 2013

Grace for your spirit
Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation.  I Peter 2:12

We were always taught there are two kinds of people.  Jews and those who were not Jews called Gentiles. The word Gentile when used in the Bible means that and much more.  The Jews believed it represented those without God, but it is much broader.  Heathens, pagan, idolaters, atheists, infidels, non-believers, miscreants, polytheists are also without God.  When someone asks us if we are Jew or Gentile, the answer is neither.  The 3rd race is Christian.  Not Jew, but certainly not Gentile without God.  Introducing ourselves as the 3rd race, will lead our conversation straight to Jesus and glorifying God.

Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Grace for your spirit November 6, 2013

Grace for your spirit
And he cried out and said, "Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus so that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool off my tongue, for I am in agony in the flame."    Luke 16:24

A church, looking for a new preacher, assigned all of their candidates the exact same passage of scripture to compare them.  Luke 16:19-31 is the story of a rich man and a poor man named Lazarus.The story ends in Hades with Lazarus in the comfort of Abraham, and the rich man in flames and agony.  All the preachers did very well, and at the end of the tryouts, one was given the job.  When he asked how he got the job they replied, "You are the only one that expressed sorrow about the rich man in agony.  How about us?  Are we sorry anyone will be lost and miss heaven?  Sorrow and compassion are very attractive features in a Christian.  Do we have them?

Monday, November 4, 2013

Grace for your spirit November 5, 2013

Grace for your spirit
If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.  John 15:7

Dear God, please untie the knots that are in my mind, my heart, and my life.  Remove the have nots, the can nots, and the do nots that I have in my mind.  Erase the will nots, may nots, and might nots that find a home in my heart.  Release me from the could nots, would nots and should nots that obstruct my life.  And most of all, dear God, I ask that you remove from my mind, my heart, and my life, all of the am nots that I have allowed to hold me back.  Especially the thought that I am not good enough.  

Abide, believe, ask, receive.  Believe it or Knot!

Sunday, November 3, 2013

Grace; for your spirit November 4, 2013

Grace for your spirit
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!  For you are like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanliness. Matthew 23:27

Has our relationship with God made us beautiful on the outside or on the inside?  We can dress ourselves in religion to be seen of others, and people can think we are really holy.  James one says that if we think we are religious, but don't control our tongue, keep ourselves unstained from the world, and help those in need, our religion is worthless.  What is a beautiful life?  We sing a song by that name that describes the beautiful life by helping those in need, helping the troubled soul, lending a helping hand, and lifting a traveler's load. Someday we will all stand before God and be judged, not by what was on the outside, but what was on the inside.