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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Life in the Body
Civic organizations, political organizations, businesses, and even non-profits are careful with their employees and those who make up their organization. They desire highly qualified individuals to be a part of their organization. Unqualified individuals or those who hamper the goals or effectiveness of the organization and its mission are generally dismissed.
That is how man thinks and how man organizes. God is different.
God keeps the weak. In the body of Christ (the church), the weak members are given prominence. The Apostle Paul wrote to the church in Corinth that those who “seem to be weaker are necessary.” He said that the members “without honor” were given “abundant honor.” (See 1 Corinthians 12:18-27.) So, a member of the body of Christ should never have the attitude that another member is unimportant or unnecessary.
This principle is easily illustrated with the human body. If I smack my thumb with a hammer, I don’t cut off my thumb. Instead, my other hand holds it, and my tear ducts might even activate. Other body members work harder to do the work that the injured thumb would ordinarily do. They also provide protection for the injured thumb. The same thing could be said for a weakness in the body. Where there is injury or weakness, the other members of my body respond.
The Christian widows in Jerusalem who were overlooked are an example this principle at work in the early church. When their situation was brought to light, they were given “abundant honor.” How? Others humbled themselves to provide for them and serve them. They were not forgotten or cast aside or forced out because of their needs; they were considered important. (See Acts 6.)
In God’s church the strong rally around those who are weak and those who have needs. The weak and needy are given abundant honor as they are shown that they are important. Those who are able to provide assistance give the needed support or attention. They treat those who are weak or in need as equals. In that, the weak and needy are shown abundant honor.
It is necessary for the members of Christ to respond to many kinds of needs: financial, employment, parental, assistance in and around the home, or simple conversation. Some may need spiritual help: teaching or help dealing with sin. Not everyone in the body responds to every need, but those who are healthy and strong and who have opportunity respond.
We do not cast off members of Christ’s body just because there are needs or because of weakness. We give. We console. We assist. We serve. We teach. We appeal. We rebuke. We pray. But most of all we keep. We keep those who are weak and needy because God does.
In the body of Christ, we consider others as more important than ourselves. We are the body of Christ...and we give attention to those who are weak and in need.
Mark Stinnett
September 6, 2026
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How to Self-Destruct
Have you ever told a lie and gotten away with it?
In other words, you lied and no one noticed, no one figured it out.
Whatever you might call it—white lie, fib, fabrication, farce, fairy tale, faulty fact, stretching the truth, half-truth, deception, loop-hole—it is a lie.
When caught in a lie, some people admit that the lie was a lie but try to justify the lie, that is, they try to explain how the lie was a good thing; they make lying out to be the correct behavior. Other people admit their lie but try to rationalize it by explaining how it was necessary; it was wrong, but there was no other way. (Still others simply refuse to admit their lie.)
Why do we (humans) attempt to justify and rationalize lying?
The reason is twofold but simple: We intuitively understanding that lying is wrong and we wish to avoid guilt. At the same time, we do not want to be branded as a liar and lose respect and trust. So, when we lie and begin to sense guilt, the mind then attempts to protect itself with justifications and rationalizations. Both soothe the conscience in to thinking that ‘I’ should not be held responsible for the lie.
You might have seen the conscience illustrated as a person with an angel figure on one shoulder and a devil figure on the opposite shoulder. Each whispers into the closest ear trying to influence a choice, good vs evil. There might be some truth to that illustration, and yet, often the battle is within. The evil desires of the body wish to take control. The human spirit (emotion, intellect, human will) desires control. Worldly desires within try to influence the soul when the soul has placed a value on truth. The conscience stands as judge to make a moral evaluation and render a verdict.
Whether the lie was motivated because of making an embarrassing mistake, failure in accomplishing a task, fear of consequences, or something else, the lie is destructive. That is because there is no such thing as ‘my truth’ and ‘your truth.’ Truth is absolute. Truth is that which exists. Truth is reality. Truth is not dependent on ‘me’ discovering it or learning it. Truth exists with or without ‘you’ and with or without ‘me.’ So, a lie does not change the truth but masks over truth so that reality is hidden.
A lie is meant to present falsehood as reality. When that is done it changes the perception of those around us. Because of the lie that is presented, they believe something that is not true. We all make choices and take action based on our perceptions of truth. So, a lie told may change the perceptions of people so that their actions are based on a deception. And remember, although Eve was deceived by the serpent, she was still held accountable for her actions. Reality DID NOT change.
So, whenever you tell a lie, you should not think that your lie affects only you. Your are selfishly influencing those around you to accept your deception as truth. And the way you influence them may be detrimental to them.
Perhaps even more devastating than the harm a lie does to others is the lie that you tell yourself...that it really does not matter. That’s how you destroy yourself. Through the writing of the wise King Solomon God revealed...
A false witness will not go unpunished,
And he who tells lies will not escape.
—Proverbs 19:5
God is very serious about lying. God is very serious about truth. For the sake of your soul and for the sake of others...always tell the truth.
Mark Stinnett
August 30, 2026
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Worship and Others
Did you read last week’s article entitled “Worship and YOU”? It emphasized that worship is not a consumer activity. It is not about making us happy and fulfilling our expectations as consumers. It is about giving honor and praise to God. That is true whether one’s worship is offered in a weekly assembly with other Christians or as an expression of worship when alone.
And yet, when we intentionally come together to worship God, our worship also fills another expectation: encouragement of fellow believers.
Listen to the words of the Apostle Paul as he gives instruction regarding the assembly of Christians. Although he was specifically addressing issues regarding spiritual gifts, the application is broad.
I thank God, I speak in tongues more than you all; however, in the church [assembly] I desire to speak five words with my mind so that I may instruct others also, rather than ten thousand words in a tongue. (1 Corinthians 14:19)
Based on Paul’s instruction it seems that the Christians in Corinth were so excited about speaking in tongues (foreign languages) that they had placed too great an emphasis on that spiritual gift. After all, if there was no interpreter (translator), then the foreign language meant nothing to anyone. The simple point is that our worship gathering ought to be understandable and encouraging to everyone attending.
Eight times in 1 Corinthians 14 Paul makes an argument for understanding. Six times he specifically emphasizes the need for edification in the assembly. He was so adamant about understanding and edification that he instructed those who spoke in tongues to be silent if there was no one to interpret (translate). He instructed those who prophesied (delivering a message from God) to take turns to avoid confusion.
So, while worship consists of praise and honor TO God, all that is done as worship should be understandable and edifying to those participating.
Earlier in 1 Corinthians, Paul gave instruction concerning the Lord’s Supper, another problem area for the Corinthian Christians. He said…
As often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes. (1 Corinthians 11:26)
Even though the Lord’s Supper is focused on the life and sacrifice of Jesus, we should be aware that we are each making an open proclamation when we participate. We are announcing the Lord’s death to our fellow saints. It is not because they are unaware. Rather, it is a declaration of unity in our shared conviction regarding Jesus. But not only that, we do so “until He comes.” It is a simple celebratory memorial that announces the death of Jesus while each participant is convinced of His return. So to share in the Lord’s Supper is to collectively celebrate our salvation AND our hope.
This article is for EVERY Christian who assembles to worship, but it is especially for those who lead. The prayers led ought to encourage. The songs chosen should encourage, and the way they are led ought to encourage. The comments at the Lord’s table ought to encourage us as they remind us of Jesus. The preaching and teaching ought to encourage. All glory and honor goes to God and to Jesus. And yet, in His divine wisdom, God desires for His worshippers to be encouraged when they assemble to worship.
Each of us has a part in our worship assemblies. Each week ought to be a kind of homecoming, until we go to our heavenly home.
Mark Stinnett
August 23, 2026
