NORTH CAROLINA CHURCH OF CHRIST
December 29, 2024
Home: Gerald Clemmons, James Cole, Thomas Davis, Mike
Garrison, Wayne Griffin, Aaron & Virginia McDonald
Please add Renee’ Parnell to your prayer list. This is JoAnn
Richardson’s sister-n-law.
The address for Sherry Box is 2160 CR 200, Florence, AL
356
Cedar View: Barbara Parker
El Reposo: Eldora Clemmons/104
LCNH: Prue Kelley/1
Mitchell/H’worth/Barbara Smith (Call before you visit)
SHUT INS: Freddie 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.
We begin a new series of lessons for the Auditorium Class
this week. The Teachings of Jesus for the 21st Century.
Lesson #1 Authority in Religion for the Modern World is
on the table in the foyer. Lesson #2 for next week, Correctly
Handling the Word of Truth, is also 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 #9 for the Wednesday night class is on the table
in the foyer. That lesson is Zephaniah.
Please check the Bulletin Board for cards, etc.
We are in charge of the services at Cedar View
Assisted Living Facility today, beginning at 2.
Our mid-week service will be Thursday at 6:30.
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, Mike Garrison, 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, Charles Miller, Porter Mitchell, Peggy Montgomery, Luke Oliver, Tracy Pace, Renee’ Parnell, 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
GREET ONE ANOTHER
There may be certain parts of Scripture that we think only applied to first-century Christians and we just skip over them. But, perhaps we should take a closer look. Consider for a moment the numerous times that Christians were directed to “Greet one another.” That still applies today.
First, think about the word, “Greet.” The Greek word literally means, “to draw to oneself.” It is defined as, “to engage in hospitable recognition of another through word or gesture, welcome, express good wishes, treat with affection.” This generally involved embracing or kissing, and the term is used repeatedly in the epistles as an imperative verb, indicating a command of God that is not optional. Do you greet?
Second, think about the object of the action, “Greet one another.” The reflexive, reciprocal pronoun “one another” involves all brethren doing this to all other brethren (Rom. 16:16; 2 Cor. 13:12). Just as we are to love one another, encourage one another and serve one another (mutual responsibilities of every Christian for every other Christian), we are to greet one another. Paul says, “Greet all the brethren” (1 Thess. 5:26), and John says, “Greet the friends by name” (3 John 14). Do you greet your brethren regularly?
Third, think about the method, “Greet one another with a holy kiss.” The Lord was not demanding a kiss in all generations and all cultures, but He was taking a common practice of that day and regulating it among the Christians. First-century greetings often included the kiss of friendship, not a passionate kiss. In modern culture, it usually is a handshake or a friendly hug—some kind of gesture that (remember the literal definition) would draw another to oneself in a welcoming, friendly way.
Fourth, think about the regulation of the greeting, “Greet one another with a HOLY kiss.” The emphasis in the text is on the word “holy.” The Lord took the common greeting of the day and ensured that it was done out of Christian affection. It is to be “holy,” meaning “set apart, sincere, unhypocritical.” You need to mean it when you greet your brethren and you need to keep it Christ-like. Peter said, “Greet one another with a kiss of love” (1 Pet. 5:14). Agape love is to color every action of a Christian.
Fifth, consider that our holy greetings are to be extended beyond our brethren. Jesus said, “If you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others?” (Matt. 5:47). When you are at a church service, spend time greeting your brethren warmly, but make it a priority to seek out guests and give them a genuine, friendly Christian welcome. Our guests should feel like they are wanted in our family.
Via: David Sproule
Palm Beach Lakes Church of Christ
Palm Beach Gardens, FL