Graphics (May 2019)

To view an image, click on one of these thumbnail images. Then if you wish to download it, right-click the image and choose “Save Image As” to save the file to your computer. Place the image in your bulletin and adjust the size to fit…. This content is for Annual and Lifetime Members only! Please…

The Influence of Mothers

[328 words] We are in a time where the lines of morality are blurred. The Bible is plain when it comes to who is to marry (one man and one woman), how children are to be parented (by both parents), and how children are to respond to their parents (reflecting Godly parenting). We should be…

Honor Your Mother!

[471 words] “Honor your father and your mother” is the fifth of the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:12). Though we do not live under the Old Testament law today, God brought nine of those commandments into the New Testament, including this one (Ephesians 6:1-3). Giving Mom a card and a box of chocolates on the second…

A Mother Isn’t Just Somebody

[179 words] “Somebody” said a mother is an unskilled laborer. “Somebody” never gave a squirmy infant a bath. “Somebody” said you know how to be a mother by instinct. “Somebody” never took a three-year-old shopping. “Somebody” said that “good” mothers never yell at their kids. “Somebody’s” child never sent a baseball through a neighbor’s picture…

Plant the Right Seeds

[179 words] Seed planting time is upon us. The gardener/farmer knows the importance of planting the right seeds at the right time. For the Christian, planting the right seeds makes all the difference, as well. I found a list of what we reap if we plant certain things in our lives. I have adapted and…

Jesus Went About Doing Good

[416 words] Peter made one of the simplest statements about Jesus that you’ll find in Scripture. But it is also packed with meaning and application. He said that Jesus “went about doing good” (Acts 10:38). This understated affirmation deserves our deeper exploration. What were some of these good things that our Lord went about doing?…

Prison Ministries

[448 words] “Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’…

What Is Success?

[171 words] If success means having lots of money, would we consider Jesus a success? At the end of his short life all he had were the clothes on his back – and those were taken by his enemies. If success means having a family (children and a spouse), where would be the apostle Paul?…

The Blessings of Teachers

[391 words] One of the things I’ve always enjoyed about teaching is witnessing the “a-ha!” moment. It is when the student has the lightbulb go on and suddenly a mysterious concept becomes plain to them. The teacher has just opened the door for the student, and the student now has the keys themselves. There is…

Lest We Drift Away

[301 words] Man-made religions grow due to entertainment worship and an acceptance of feel-good philosophy. Once faithful Christians have exchanged truth for fiction. The Hebrew writer says, “Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away (2:1). Ignoring God’s commands will cause the once faithful to…

Lessons from a Watermelon

[304 words] William Jennings Bryan wrote of a visit he made to a restaurant in which he ordered a slice of watermelon. He writes, “I was so pleased with the taste of the melon that I took the seeds home with me to plant in my garden. That night a thought came to my mind.…

God Isn’t Finished With You Yet

[418 words] For the conscientious Christian, weaknesses and failures can be particularly vexing. To put it bluntly and personally, I hate it when I fail to live up to God’s standard. It irritates me. I know that when it comes to sinners, the apostle Paul staked a claim to the moniker, “chief” (1 Tim. 1:15).…

The Effective Church

[112 words] …Exalts God (Eph. 3:21). The church is a place of heartfelt praise of its Architect. …Evangelizes the Lost (Matt 28:19-20). The church is a place where the truth of the gospel is presented to all. …Edifies its Members (Eph. 4:16). The church is a place of great love and encouragement.  …Educates the Unlearned…

God Knows Our True Needs!

[338 words] Science says that we need 4 basic things in order for us to survive: 1) Water, 2) Air, 3) Food, 4) Light. Jesus has the perfect water. “Jesus answered her, ‘If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked Him and…

Did Jesus Condemn Homosexuality?

[202 words] Many times you will hear the argument given that Jesus never condemned homosexuality. That lack of condemnation is then skewed as acceptance. However, a closer look at scripture leads to a different conclusion.  In Luke 10:12, Jesus is denouncing those that refused to believe the message about the kingdom of God when He…

Is It Wrong To Not?

[396 words] Is it wrong to not use an instrument of music in worship service? Is it wrong to not drink alcohol? Is it wrong to attend every church service? Now the opposite of these topics often draw many articles and lesson, as people are curious to find out the limits. But one rarely claims…

Baptism and the Forgiveness of Sins

[215 words] In the context of our congregation, the biblical teaching of baptism for the remission of sins is not a teaching that troubles any of us (at least, with regard to what I am aware). The other day I was talking to a Baptist preacher, a man with whom I am very impressed; he…

A Swing and a Miss

[99 words] The newly constructed tracks of the Union Pacific and the Central Pacific railways were first linked at Promontory Point, Utah, on May 10, 1869. In celebration, Leland Stanford, the president of Central Pacific, drove a golden spike symbolically completing the job. On his first swing, he missed the spike, drawing gales of laughter…

Superhero Mom

[66 words] While many people are talking about the big-screen fictional superheroes The Avengers this spring,it’s nice to remember that there are real-life superheroes all around us: Mothers! Self-sacrificing, wise, and loving, godly mothers are worthy of our respect and admiration. This Mother’s Day, let’s remember to honor our mothers and recognize the power they…

Go For the Prize

[91 words] With $25,000 up for grabs, Charles Lindbergh took off from Long Island on May 20, 1927 in an attempt to become the first man to fly solo non-stop from New York to Paris. He made the trip in 36 hours and became an instant worldwide hero. His example shows that great deeds require…

What Hath God Wrought?

[66 words] On May 24, 1844, telegraph inventor Samuel Morse sent the first official message down the wire: “What hath God wrought?” Morse was amazed by the possibilities that lie in understanding God’s laws of physics. With each invention that comes along, man should recognize that the creative power of God makes it all possible,…

Bible Quiz: The Net

[59 words] Read Matthew 13:47-50 1. The kingdom of heaven is like a ___ that was cast into the sea. 2. The fishermen gathered the ___ into vessels. 3. What did they do with the bad? 4. This parable represents the ___ of the ___. 5. The ___ will separate the wicked from among the…

Bible Quiz: The Lost Sheep

[76 words] Read Matthew 18:10-14 1. “Take heed that you do not ___ one of these little ones…” 2. “The Son of Man came to ___ that which was ___.” 3. How many sheep did the man in the parable have? 4. How many had to go missing in order for the shepherd to go…

Bible Quiz: The Unforgiving Servant

[56 words] Read Matthew 18:23-35 1. This parable was told because Peter asked Jesus about ___. 2. How many times should a person forgive? 3. In the parable, why did the king forgive his servant’s debt? 4. What did the servant do to his fellow servant who owed him money? 5. The king in this…

Bible Quiz: The Vineyard

[60 words] Read Matthew 20:1-16 1. “The kingdom of heaven is like a ___ who went out early in the morning to hire ___ for his vineyard.” 2. Did he hire all of his workers at the same time? 3. Who did the landowner pay first? 4. Why were the first workers angry? 5. “So…

Quotes and Sayings (May 2019)

[271 words] “Life began with waking up and loving my mother’s face.” – George Eliot “The sweetest sounds to mortals given, Are heard in Mother, Home, and Heaven.” – William Goldsmith Brown “All that I am, or hope to be, I owe to my angel mother.” – Abraham Lincoln “When you look into your mother’s…

On the Lighter Side (May 2019)

[315 words] Come Out and PlayGeorge knocked on the door of his friend’s house. When his friend’s mother answered he asked, “can Albert come out to play?””No,” said the mother, “it’s too cold.””Well, then,” said George, “can his football come out to play?” Three Gifts for MomThree sons left home, went out on their own…