Our preacher, Mark Stinnett, publishes articles for the church bulletin each week. These articles are designed to teach, encourage and challenge the members of our congregation. His latest articles can be found below with the most recent at the beginning of the list. Mark has archived all of his articles on his personal blog 'MicroMarks' which can be accessed at: micromarks.blogspot.com.
Preacher's Blog
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Study the Bible??
She was interested in studying the Bible. Her church leaders were not. She asked her parents if they wanted to study the Bible. Their response, “Why would we do that? Our priest will tell us what we need to know.” Unfortunately, that thinking is common among Christians who rely on their priest/pastor/preacher to tell them what they need to know.
How does a person study the Bible? Are there formal steps to take? Does it require formal training? Does it require a library of biblical resources?
Studying the Bible may be understood in a broad sense with many thoughts as to how that is to be accomplished. However, one thing is obvious. If a person intends to study the Bible, he/she must read the Bible. But then what?
Take a moment and think about the works of Shakespeare. How would you go about studying Shakespeare? The first and most obvious answer is to read the works of Shakespeare. Since he and his works are not modern writings, you would expect to have to read them multiple times just to get a sense of how the man wrote and communicated.
Shakespeare wrote plays and sonnets. So, it makes sense to learn how these types of writing differ. And what was his purpose? Was he trying to teach life lessons? Was he making a political statement about the conditions of his day? Were his writings for mere entertainment? A person studying the works of Shakespeare would also want to know something about the man himself, his cultural background, his life story.
We could continue this little exercise, but I think you see the point. There are some rather obvious tasks involved in studying Shakespeare. And let’s not forget that studying is more than reading. Yes, studying involves thinking.
Does it make sense to apply these same conclusions to studying the Bible? It is true that studying the Bible involves reading and thinking about the things read. It involves inquiry into its author—God. There is also relevance in learning basic things about biblical culture and history and special expressions. But first and foremost, the Bible must be read…over and over.
When the Israelites were about to enter the Promised Land, God told Moses to instruct Israel to erect an altar when they entered the land. The stones of the altar were to be coated with lime. God instructed: “You shall write on the stones all the words of this law very distinctly.” You might call this the community copy of the Law of Moses. (See Deuteronomy 27.)
Israelite parents were to teach God’s word to their children. Moses and those leading Israel were to use the Law (God’s word) to govern Israel and settle disputes in Israel.
God foresaw a time when Israel would desire a king. Along with warnings came instruction directed to future kings who were to make a personal handwritten copy of the Law of Moses. Each king was to read it and observe it all the days of his life. One of the finest examples was that of King David. Read Psalm 119 to see his thoughts about God’s word. Seriously, read Psalm 119.
The New Testament made the town of Berea famous among Christians. They opened their Bible to fact-check the Apostle Paul. They studied God’s word.
The Bible is more than history. God has revealed Himself to mankind. Beyond that, He has demanded of mankind a response. Going back to the Garden of Eden through to the end of Revelation, God calls for a response. Your Bible was never meant to be shelved. It is to be open. It is to be read and read and read…and followed. You’ll have to think and apply the things you read.
Are you a Berean or are you sitting around waiting for your preacher?
Open the Book of Books.
Read.
Study.
Ponder.
Think.
Reread.
Mark Stinnett
November 1, 2026
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Why Anxiety?
Why is anxiety so common among humans?
Would you like an answer based on human research? How about my opinion after years of practical observation? Would a word from Jesus be better!?
In His well-known Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 6), Jesus taught His listeners, “Do not be worried about your life…nor for your body….” He used some common knowledge to illustrate the futility of worry.
First, the birds do not work like people do. They do not sow seeds then later reap grain and then store it in barns. However, God feeds them. Then He said, “Are you not worth much more than they?” His point was that God thinks you are more valuable than birds, yet he feeds the birds without making them work like humans. Jesus started His illustration, “Look at the birds of the air.” I think He wanted His listeners (readers) to actually go outside and look at the birds and then think about what He had said. There is no reason to worry about food.
Second, flowers do not work like people do. They do not go to work and make cloth that will later be made into clothing. Then Jesus compared the ‘clothing’ of flowers to the clothing of King Solomon, the wealthiest of all the kings. He concluded that the flowers are clothed far more beautifully than Solomon and all His royal clothing. And the flowers? They are alive one day and then the next day dead and dried out ready for the fire. Jesus then asked, “if God so clothes the grass of the field…will He not much more clothe you?” Jesus started His illustration, “Observe how the lilies of the field grow.” I think He wanted His listeners (readers) to actually go outside and look at some flowers and then think about what He had said. There is no reason to worry about clothing.
In between the two illustrations Jesus asked whether worry would add an hour to your life. His point: worry produces nothing beneficial.
Jesus then said something about the Gentiles, that is, non-Jews. Those who were not Jews had no covenant relationship with God. They received sunshine and rain like everybody does. But they had no promises from God like the Jews. Jesus said that those who had no covenant with God “eagerly seek all these things.” In other words, they give their attention to securing food and clothing. That is central to their existence in the world, filling their basic needs.
In comparison, Jesus said that God knows that people need these things and you are people who are in a covenant relationship with God. Remember! You are more valuable than birds; you are more valuable than flowers. God takes care of them, and He will take care of you. So, instead of being anxious about your basic needs of life, “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.”
It is at this point that I have heard many people explain, justify or rationalize their worry, “You just don’t understand.” Did you think that? Did you think, “Hey, the guy writing this blog doesn’t understand.” You’re probably right. And if that is what you are thinking, think again; only address your thoughts toward God. Is that how you want to address God, “You don’t understand”?
This is what God understands. There is something more important than life itself: the kingdom of God. If you are a part of the kingdom of God, you possess promises from God. You have been promised the Holy Spirit who enables you to fulfill God’s expectations while on earth. You possess the promise of life after death. You possess the promise of eternal life. That makes your concerns over food and clothing pale in comparison.
Do you know the root cause of worry for the Christian? Jesus said it, “You of little faith.” A person who has complete confidence in God has no reason to worry. That person will find contentment with God’s provisions while keeping his eyes focused on eternal life. Until that day, he will keep his feet walking on the path of righteousness.
Mark Stinnett
October 25, 2026
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You Might Need a New Lens
On our way home from church services my sister went on and on about all the problems in the church. She had come home from college with lots of answers. My dad listened attentively until she paused, seemingly waiting for his perspective on the matter. He wisely replied, “I guess you can do whatever you want when you get your church.”
Silence.
A few years later I was fortunate to enroll in a class on missions with a wise former missionary. Early in our class he told us that we would undoubtedly have ideas that we were sure would make the church better. His advice: “Don’t act on your ideas immediately; write them all down in a notebook and then store them in a box after beginning your ministry. Then, after five years take out your notebook and have a good laugh.”
My sister and I were young, lacking biblical knowledge and lacking life experience. We both needed to change the lens through which we viewed God’s church. We thought we knew something but were crippled by focusing on ourselves and our newfound knowledge. The wisdom of my dad and my professor was to change the lens through which we viewed God’s church.
In reality, there is nothing wrong with the head of the church, Christ. There is nothing wrong with the design of God’s church. There is nothing wrong with the teachings and direction of God’s church. And believe it or not, there is nothing wrong with the church itself, not when those who make up the church maintain their focus on Jesus and view the world, the church and themselves through a lens crafted by God. Problems come when people begin to view the world and the church and themselves through a lens of their own making, a lens that is focused on oneself.
Children often make the same mistake regarding their parents. While focusing on themselves, seeing life through a lens of their own making, many children grow up viewing their parents as overlords keeping them from all the wonderful things in life, keeping them from chasing their liberty. Many of those views change when they have children of their own. It is as if a new lens is used to view life.
The same is true of life in general. When we focus on ourselves through a lens of our own making, we become comfortable in passing judgment on others. We view others through our lens of justice, our lens of righteousness, our lens morality. We become critical instead of merciful. We become judgmental instead of forgiving. We tend to condemn instead of advancing the gospel.
At least in part, I think Jesus was trying to communicate this through the parable of the prodigal son. The younger son was completely focused on himself. He left home as soon as possible to get out from under his father’s suffocating rule. Only when he was destitute did he view things through a different lens.
The older brother did not make the same mistake as his younger brother. Yet he was also completely focused on himself and his own self-righteousness. So, when his brother returned home, he compared himself to his brother and bemoaned his circumstances by keeping the focus on himself.
The father was the only one with the right focus…a focus on relationship.
When we focus on duty and doctrinal correctness and Christian liberty and law, we tend to turn inward with a lens of our own making. We tend to turn our focus onto ourselves and our perspectives while losing our focus on people. Whether we are thinking about the church, children and parents, or life in general, we must learn to view things through the eyes of God.
He wants to have a relationship with you. He wants you to be like Him. Do you need to change the lens through which you view life?
Mark Stinnett
October 18, 2026
