NORTH CAROLINA CHURCH OF CHRIST
February 23, 2025
Home: Gerald Clemmons
Our sympathy goes out to Jayne Dial, Greg, Ragan on the
passing of Donnie. He served North Carolina in many
capacities and his kindness and quiet spirit will be greatly
missed.
Cedar View: Barbara Parker
LCNH: Prue Kelley/1
SHUT INS: Freddie Davis Jennifer Davis, Stacy McCormack,
Evelyn Newton, Betty Scott, Vicki Wright.
Please remember those in the nursing homes and our
Shut-Ins
ISAIAH’S CALL: Please continue to bring Hamburger
Helper Meals or give your donations to Amy, Ann, or
Pat.
Lesson #10 for next weeks Auditorium Class, The Teaching
of Jesus in in the 21st Century, is on the table for your study.
Men…The lessons to be taught are also on the table in the
foyer. As always, please pick the lesson you would like to
teach and sign the appropriate space.
Lesson #14 for the Wednesday night class is on the table
in the foyer. That lesson is Malachi.
Please check the Bulletin Board for cards, etc.
We need volunteers to teach the Cradle Roll class for March
and for May.
There is a list on the table in the foyer for help with the
Shut-In Meal on Friday, Feb. 28th. Please look at the list
to see if you could help with the meal this month.
REMEMBER IN PRAYER
Please keep these folks in your thoughts and
prayers.
Michelle Bernstein, Sherry Box, Alma Butler, Billy Bryant, Vicki Burbank, Haley Bugg, Donnie Carroll, Tom Childers, Jane Clark, Gerald Clemmons, Mitch Clemmons, Jim Clemmons, Brandon Cody, Jennifer Davis, Thomas Davis, Caitlyn Dennis, Tammy Dial, Kevin Dillon, Dakota Garner, Bridgett Gattis, Carter Glascock, Kayla Hamner, Lori Hargett, Shirley Harmon, Cypress Hayes, Taylor Hendrix, Charles and Joyce Hester, Lana Hines, Christine Holden, Cindy James, Josh Hones, Brock Killen, Don Lakey, Madalyn Littrell, Brenda McDonald, Porter Mitchell, Peggy Montgomery, Luke Oliver, Tracy Pace, Ethan Pennington, Kenzie Perkins, Dennis Phillips, Tamika Powell, Mike Prince, Linda Rickard, Ricky Rogers, Lazaro Ruiz, Susan Schmidlkofer, Kim Sharp, Steve Shelton, Kristi Shollenberger, Barbara Smith, Betty Sparkman, Kevin Springer, Jean Symore, Earl Tank, Brad Tank, Patrice Tucker, Rene Voser, Luke White, Donna Wilkerson, Vicki Wright
IT’S THE MESSAGE, NEVER THE MESSENGER
Corinth was located in the midst of the Grecian world characterized by orators and philosophers. Rome had conquered the Grecian world, but its culture in some ways had not changed at all. This magnifies the importance of what Paul said in his first letter to this city. “I was determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified” (1 Cor. 2:2). The power of the gospel to change the world is not determined by the skill of the messenger but in the truth of the message.
Dio Chrysostom lived from A.D. 40 until A.D. 110 and was a Greek historian and writer of the Roman world. Eighty of his discourses have been found and in one of them he describes the orators of his day. “They croak like frogs in a marsh; they are the most wretched of men, because, though ignorant, they think themselves wise; they are like peacocks, showing off their reputation and the number of their pupils as peacocks do their tails.”
This was the world into which Paul came to establish the kingdom of God in Corinth. He first entered the synagogue and “persuaded both Jews and Greeks…and testified to the Jews that Jesus is the Christ” (Acts 18:4-5). His description of his preaching gives such insight into the importance of the message over the importance of the messenger. “My speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God” (1 Cor. 2:4-5). The results of this? “Many of the Corinthians hearing, believed and were baptized” (Acts 18:8). His purpose was not to elevate any man above the cross, for no man had died for them nor had they been baptized in the name of any man (1 Cor. 1:13).
What happened when this humble apostle exalted Christ and Him crucified as he preached? While many of the Corinthians believed, most of them did not. How is it that some obeyed the orators. “The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (1 Cor. 1:18). “Greeks seek after wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified” (1 Cor. 1:22-23).
Should the message be changed to convert more? Hear the words of Paul, “For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise…not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise” (1 Cor. 1:26-27). The death of Jesus is foolishness to most, but to us it is the power of God. God help us to simply preach Christ and His message—not ours!
Via: Dan Jenkins
Palm Beach Lakes Church of Christ
Palm Beach Gardens, FL