This year’s Youth Lectureship is titled “Spread Your Wings” and will be held on Friday, March 26, and Saturday, March 27. Speakers and topics include:

• Ken Leach–”Finding the Right Nest: Finding My Place in the Church”; Friday, March 26 at 7PM
• Sam Matthews–”The Early Bird Gets the Worm: Choosing a Career & Giving to God”; Saturday, March 27 at 10AM
• Derek Long–”Birds of a Feather Flock Together: Christian Friendships”; Saturday, March 27 at 11AM
• Ken Leach–”Soaring Above the Clouds: A Word To Youth”; Saturday, March 27 at 2:15PM

Download the 2010 Youth Lectureship Flyer to hand out to your friends, family, co-workers, classmates and neighbors. Ken Leach will also be speaking Sunday morning and evening on “How To Get Along With People.”

This year’s Youth Lectureship is titled “Young Christians in a Nutshell” and runs from Friday, March 27, through Saturday, March 28. Speakers and topics include:

• Chris Nicholson–”Sometimes you feel like a nut, sometimes you don’t: when to speak up and when to stay silent”; Friday, March 27 at 7PM
• Ryan Sollars–”The nut shouldn’t fall far from the tree: a young person’s place in the church”; Saturday, March 28 at 10AM
• Derek Long–”From a small acorn a mighty oak is grown: young leaders in the Bible”; Saturday, March 28 at 11AM
• Chris Nicholson–”Not cracking under pressure: maintaining your faith”; Saturday, March 28 at 2:15PM

Download the 2009 Youth Lectureship Flyer to hand out to your friends, family, co-workers, classmates and neighbors. Also on Wednesday and Thursday nights (March 25 & 26) at 7PM, Chris Nicholson will give lessons on how parents can encourage their children.

Millions of dollars are being spent to build/support student centers, church lodges, swimming pools, fishing ponds, youth retreats, homes for unwed mothers, hospitals, recreation youth centers, gymnasiums; sponsoring talent shows, youth banquets, boy scout troops; or support colleges and other institutions for various reasons from the church treasuries.

Are such things really the work of the church? Where is the Biblical authority for supporting such works? Surely the Lord’s church needs to be hard at work, but at God’s work, not man’s. What is the work of the church?

The apostle Paul revealed the work of the church in writing to the Ephesian brethren: » Continue reading “What Is The Work Of The Church?”

As we continue to explore the avenues of Christian worship, we come to the act of giving. Along with praying, the Lord’s Supper, reading and preaching the Word of God, and singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, giving is an act of worship. It is God’s will that Christians return a portion of that which He has given to each and every one of us as a free will offering. God has always asked His people to freely give of their means in the form of an offering:

Tell the sons of Israel to raise a contribution for Me; from every man whose heart moves him you shall raise My contribution. — Exodus 25:2 NAS

The responsibility of giving is still required of God’s people. Paul told the Christians at Corinth: » Continue reading “How Should The Church Raise Money?”

In recent years, people have been advocating the partaking of the Lord’s Supper on any day of the week. Some churches have partaken of it only three or four times a year. It is only natural that this question would arise by those who sincerely want to know what the Bible teaches regarding this subject.

When one considers everything the Bible has to say about the Lord’s Supper, you will find no statement, example or implication that saints in apostolic times observed the communion on any day other than “the first day of the week” (Acts 20:7). By that same token, you will find no Bible authority for New Testament Christians living to observe the communion on any day other than “the first day of week.”

According to the New Testament, the early Christians met on the first day of each week, the Lord’s Day, and observed the Lord’s Supper. The Holy Spirit, through Luke, stated, » Continue reading “When Is the Lord’s Supper To Be Served?”

The great importance of the Lord’s Supper can be seen by the fact that Christ Himself instituted the Supper. On the night of His betrayal and after celebrating the Passover we read:

And while they were eating, Jesus took {some} bread, and after a blessing, He broke {it} and gave {it} to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.” And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave {it} to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you; for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins. –Matt 26:26-28 NAS

The bread, representing the Lord’s body, and the cup, representing His » Continue reading “Is The Partaking Of The Lord’s Supper Important?”

In fulfillment of God’s eternal plan (Eph. 3:10-11) the church was born. Jesus fulfilled His promise to build the church (Matt. 16:18) on the first day of Pentecost after His resurrection. From Acts chapter two on the church that Jesus built almost becomes the center of focus. Churches belonging to the Lord began to spring up in city after city throughout the Roman Empire. How was this church designated in the Scriptures?

A careful reading of the New Testament will reveal designations that can be divided into three groups. These designations were used with real meaning, expressing function, ownership, and relationship. These designations were given by divine direction and fulfill a divine purpose. Let’s take note of them. » Continue reading “Does God Care How The Church Is Designated?”

Denominationalism is so prevalent that people usually find it hard to understand how there could be a church that is not a denomination. Therefore, they see the church of Christ in a context of numerous “churches” and they assume that it is simply another one among the many. This concept of modern denominationalism is foreign to the Bible.

A denomination is by definition a part of the whole, hence a party among parties. The theory of denominationalism is that one may be a Christian and a member of the universal and “invisible” church, but by choice may be also a member of a particular segment (party) of “Christianity.” That segment or party will have certain features which distinguishes it from other “Christian” segments or parties. » Continue reading “Is The Church Of Christ A Denomination?”

This is essentially the same question that Nicodemus asked of Jesus after Jesus had told him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3 NAS). Nicodemus replied: “How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born, can he?” (vs 4). Jesus then explained, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.”

Jesus explained that entering the kingdom of God one must be “born again.” Notice very carefully what was said in this conversation: (1) One must be born anew before he can enter the kingdom; (2) This new birth is not physical, but spiritual (because one cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born); and (3) This spiritual birth involves two elements – “water and the Spirit.” What is the significance of “water” and “the Spirit” in this connection? » Continue reading “What Does It Mean To Be Born Again?”