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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Death Interrupted by Life
You’ve heard it. I’ve heard it. I’ve probably even said it: “Death is just a part of life.”
I don’t believe that anymore, at least, not like it is usually meant.
The reason is simple: When God created the earth, He placed upon it living things. It is true that there were inanimate objects like rocks, but they were not the remains of living things. So, not only is God the creator of life, but He is also not the creator of death. For Adam and Eve, death was conditional. Regarding the fruit on the forbidden tree: God said, “In the day that you eat from it, you will surely die” (Genesis 2:18). Adam and Eve had a choice. Again, death was conditional.
We might think that because of Adam and Eve death is a certainty for the rest of us. Yet, before we begin playing the blame game, we all know that we have sinned and are therefore deserving of death. The Bible tells us that that “there is none righteous, not even one.” and “all have sinned” (Romans 3:10 & 6:23). Yet, even without these declarations, each of us knows our own sin because of guilt feelings sensed in the conscience at some point in time.
What does all this tell us? God created life and God intended life. That is to say that God did not create mankind with the intention for man to die. This thought ought to be as natural to us as breathing. The earth is full of evidence shouting, “Life!”
Just think about weeds as an example. Is there need for further explanation?
A man was old and nearing death. His hospital room was filled with relatives saying their final “farewells.” I was called in to offer comfort and prayer. After a couple of hours, I wondered if I should stay or leave and come back later. The attending nurse informed me that the man was minutes away from death, not hours. The old man was unconscious, long pauses between breaths as his body gasped for air. Although he had previously communicated his desire to pass on, his body struggled to live, breath after labored breath until it could struggle no longer. I have looked back on this occasion many times as I observed that as living things, your body and mine desire to live even if we have lost the will to live. That is how God created us.
Jesus Christ stands as a kind of exclamation point to God’s testimony for life. When man destroyed his own life through sin, God interrupted death with the offer of life. So, once again mankind faces a choice. In the Garden of Eden man was alive but chose death through sin. Now, God has given us the choice to live again through Jesus Christ. When we give our allegiance to Jesus, we then find that death is but an interruption on the way to eternal life.
Like most, even though I have the assurance of eternal life in Christ, I do not look forward to the day of my physical death. I think it is the nature of what God has created, the innate desire in every living thing to keep on living. Undoubtedly, that is why most of the writers of the New Testament epistles remind their readers of the hope we have in Christ, that is, the expectation of eternal life.
The promise of eternal life provides the motivation to live each day in God’s kingdom according to God’s way. Our hope of eternal life also refreshes our souls in our later years when it is evident that our bodies are wearing out and death is more visible than ever before. Our hope revises our view of death. Because of God’s promises death is but an interruption along a path to life.
When we died to our sins by being buried with Christ in baptism, God raised us up to walk in newness of life (Romans 6:4-5). That ‘newness of life’ is not a figure of speech, but rather, the beginning of eternal life. Being born again (John 3:5), we receive a new spirit. Death is but an interruption in which the old body is exchanged for a new body; the perishable for an imperishable (1 Corinthians 15:42).
God urges, “Get ready!” Prepare to leave; prepare to go; prepare for arrival.
Gaze heavenward always!
Mark Stinnett
October 4, 2026
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What Are You Chasing?
“The proverbs,” those wise, clever, pithy (and often unrelated) sayings actually begin in chapter ten with an announcement:
The proverbs of Solomon.
A wise son makes a father glad,
But a foolish son is a grief to his mother.
--Proverbs 10:1
I would not press the matter, but the first nine chapters of Proverbs may simply be a lengthy introduction. It is as if Solomon was careful to prepare the mind of his son so that he could listen to wisdom. And how does he prepare him?
If I had to summarize the first nine chapters of Proverbs into one statement…
Chase after the knowledge and discernment of the Lord;
do not chase after women.
Just prior to chapter ten, wisdom is personified as a desirable woman offering wisdom, discretion, and life. In stark contrast is the ‘strange’ woman (adulteress) who is ultimately portrayed as naïve. She doesn’t even realize that she seduces men to their deaths.
How many young men have set their eyes on a good and lofty goal in life; high thoughts of service, generosity, and devotion to God, perhaps even entering into the ministry? But things changed. It was not shifting interests or the demands of career; rather it was the momentary distraction of the sexual lure of a woman.
Foolish!
Even if he is careful/clever enough to escape public notice, the guilt changes him. Lofty goals are smashed.
Changed forever!
It is not that God’s forgiveness cannot heal. But the power of sin and the psychological entanglement are great and all too often defeating.
There is no ‘undo.’
Watch his parents...
Filled with high hopes, his father’s heart is deeply saddened; his mother weeps. There are many ways to act foolishly, but sexual sin is among the most devastating.
Young men! Sexual purity is of greatest importance. Purity of the spirit is the pursuit of wisdom and knowledge and discernment. You will NEVER regret the sin you did not commit!
How many young men have fallen prey to the lure of a girlfriend, the power of pornography, the seduction of another man’s wife? For a moment of sexual pleasure, a life is changed!
Changed forever!!!
The ‘first’ proverb...
A wise son makes a father glad,
But a foolish son is a grief to his mother.
Chase wisely!
Mark Stinnett,
September 27, 2026
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Who Would Hate Christianity??
Some people hate Christianity, and justifiably so. It might be violence masquerading as the Lord’s cause (i.e., the Crusades). It might be criminal activity among church leaders. It might be immoral behavior that is tolerated or ‘swept under the rug’ to keep a church scandal hidden from the public. Where high ideals and moral behavior are preached but hypocrisy is seen, it is found to be highly distasteful. For that reason, some do not hate Christianity without cause. (See last week’s article.) And yet, those displays of ungodly behavior are not real Christianity.
More confounding are those who hate Christianity when God’s people are following God’s word. Those who are saints live by the Golden Rule, live the Sermon on the Mount, strive to love God and love their neighbor. They may not lead perfect lives, but they are not hypocrites. Nor do they wear their holiness like a badge of honor. Rather, in humble sincerity, they stive to live like Christ. And yet, some people still hate Christianity and those who are Christians, and there is nothing we can do about it.
The reason is rather simple. It is rooted in the character of God and the human conscience.
We understand that fellowship with God is based on living according to the divine character of God (compassion, grace, forgiveness, faithfulness, kindness, love, justice). Anyone who goes against the character of God naturally breaks fellowship with God. Said another way, God cannot embrace anyone who is foreign to His divine character of purity, holiness, love, and justice. So, those who oppose God are rejected by God. However, it is not because God rejects them. Rather, by their values and decisions, they choose to reject God.
The sad truth is that many people do not wish to live in harmony and fellowship with God. They wish to be independent of God and live according to their own standard. They oppose the very character of God and His holiness.
However, when they oppose God’s character by sinning, they feel guilt in their conscience. That is because God placed within every human being a moral code that does not require oral or written law. Paul refers to it in Romans 1 as the ‘ordinance of God’ (v. 32). This unwritten moral standard forbids murder, disobedience to parents and immorality, among other sins. So, even those who reject God know that some things are wrong, and their conscience informs them of their guilt.
Since they do not wish to live by God’s standard, they attempt to justify their sin or rationalize it. Yet, Christianity (and Christians) are a stark reminder of God and His standard of holiness. So, they despise Christianity.
The following Scriptures inform us of our responsibility toward those haters:
If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.
--Romans 12:18
He who corrects a scoffer gets dishonor for himself,
And he who reproves a wicked man gets insults for himself.
Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you,
Reprove a wise man and he will love you.
--Proverbs 9:7-8
Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine,
or they will trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.
--Matthew 7:6
If you discover that a person is a scoffer, one who mocks God, mocks the teachings of Jesus, and mocks the people of God, your best response is generally silence. By engaging in debate, especially publicly (including social media), you may be the one providing them a platform for openly mocking God. The exception may be if naïve listeners would benefit from your correction.
Be wise and do not provide haters an opportunity to further mock God.
Mark Stinnett
September 20, 2026
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Do They hate Christianity without Cause?
Christians are followers of Christ, right? Jesus stood for goodness, kindness, service, forgiveness and love. Jesus promoted godliness and holiness among His followers. The life of the Christian is on a trajectory to be more like Christ each day.
Yet, for some, the mere mention of Christianity causes a strong negative reaction. Depending on the circumstances, they might offer their opinion about the evils of Christianity. Yes, it is true. Some people think that Christianity has done far more harm than good. Some people hate Christianity and despise Christians.
Why would anyone hate Christianity and what can we do about it?
Some people hate Christianity because of the evils done in the name of Christ in the past and in the present. While you and I cannot be held accountable for the Crusades, those wars were initiated and fought in the name of Christ. For many unbelievers, that intuitively goes against what they believe Christianity should be. They are correct. Jesus said that His kingdom was not of this world. On the day He was crucified He told Pilate that if His kingdom were of this world, His disciples would be fighting for Him. So, even Jesus would say that the Crusades were bad.
In our day, some professed Christians attach to Christianity their political views or their love of country. However, the teachings and values of Jesus transcend political ideologies and national boundaries. So, it is understandable when unbelievers are critical for such associations.
Some people look down on or even hate Christianity because of the internal problems witnessed within groups claiming affiliation with Christianity. They see sin tolerated, strife over petty issues, and division. The problem is not new, but it is damaging. Most of the content of the letter of 1 Corinthians focuses on division within the church in Corinth in the first century. One of the problems the Apostle Paul addressed was how the Christians were taking fellow Christians to the secular courts over their disagreements. He said it would be better to be wronged than to act in such a way. Another problem in the church in Corinth was the tolerance of a particular sin that Paul said would not even be tolerated by godless people.
We might sum up these reasons for hating Christianity under the header of hypocrisy. Even without being taught the Bible, most people have an idea of the kind of people Christians are supposed to be. So, when outsiders see the lives of Christians who are not living up to the standards of Christ, they justify their distaste for Christianity.
Undoubtedly, this kind of thing must make God very sad. After all, it has been His plan for Christians to showcase to the world the benefits of being in the family of God. So, what can we do? In the Scriptures we (Christians) are taught:
Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” (Matthew 5:44)
Let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith. (Galatians 6:10)
In everything, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets. (Matthew 7:12)
Love your neighbor as yourself. (Matthew 22:39)
Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor. (Romans 12:10)
Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ has forgiven you. (Ephesians 4:32)
By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another. (John 13:35)
If all Christians were truly devoted to these teachings, those outside of Christ would have a very different view of Christianity. But what about you? What is your part in all this? Self-denial. Read the verses again because it is not about YOU.
Mark Stinnett
September 13, 2026
