It takes a lot of courage to show your dreams to someone else. — Erma Bombeck

Sometimes it is just down right difficult to share the sweetest message man has ever heard with others. The courage to “give an answer for the hope that is in us” is hard to find sometimes. Most everyone is scared of rejection and failure. Well I’ve got some hope for you. Continue reading “BE BRAVE, IT GETS EASIER! by Joe Chase” →

We live in a period known for a lack of personal involvement. It may be true that many people do not want to invest in the lives of others. However, we don’t believe this is true of most people. When it comes to the work of the local congregation, the lack of involvement of much of the membership may come from some misconceptions.

There is the idea that all Christian service must come from organized programs of the church. This is not to downplay the importance of organization for it is still true that everyone’s business often becomes nobody’s business. However, there are so many good works that cannot be effectively formalized into church programs. Continue reading “THINGS WE CAN ALL DO, By Bill Hamrick” →

Paul expresses, in simple terms, the meaning of the term “desire” in his letter to the Romans: “Brethren, my hearts desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved” (Romans 10:1). The salvation of his Jewish countrymen was his most ardent wish. He really wanted to see them saved. He had a longing–an insatiable craving for that outcome, and his works throughout his life attest to that desire.

The Lord’s church suffers immensely today for lack of desire in those who should be the stalwarts in the faith. For instance, it is not a matter of not having qualified men to serve the church as elders. It is a matter of men not having the desire, which is a qualification in itself (I Tim. 3:1). . Too many men just don’t want to serve.

The same is applicable to teaching and preaching. Capable people just don’t want to do it. They don’t have the desire (I Pet. 2:2). Failure to give, attend services, and all the other things that Christians should do have the same underlying problem–a lack of desire. To the contrary, God’s people are to be peculiar and zealous of good works (Titus 2:14).  A lack of desire kills initiative for all future growth of the church and her mission (Mark 1:15-16).

A. C. Quinn preaches for the Celeste Church of Christ
in Celeste, Texas.

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