FOR THE EDIFICATION OF BELIEVERS

The first place of Christian service is the local church.

Colossians 3:16, Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

I have long advocated for the support of the local church. It was in the local church I heard the Word of God preached. It was in the local church the Lord taught me what the basic principles for Biblical living should be. (Serving, giving, ministering, fellowship, missions, etc.) It was in the local church He called me into the ministry. It was out of a local church God called me to pastor at where I serve now. So, yeah, I believe the local church is pretty important. It’s not just important to me though, it’s important to the Lord as well. It is the local church that God set up to be the means of help to the believers. And if you believe, it’s for YOU!

Have you set forth the purpose of attending your church this morning? If not, why? Don’t have a church to go to; send me a message, I can help! So, GET UP, GET READY, and GO TO CHURCH THIS MORNING!

RESTORE SUCH A ONE!

Hey unspiritual man, quit kicking sinners and saints when they are down!

Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Galatians 6:1

So quick we are to kick a fellow believer when they are overtaken in sin. We berate them before other believers, avoid them like they are the plague, and to some extent encourage them to find another church. Where do we find any of that in the New Testament?

Pastor, Preacher, Evangelist, Deacon, Christian friend, instead of looking down your self-righteous nose, watching your NCIS, Criminal Minds, and every other sick perverted thing you watch on TV, please don’t kick anyone else before you begin searching within your own heart where you fall short. I am reminded of another portion of scripture this morning found in, 1 Corinthians 10:12, “Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.”