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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yOUR oBJECT OF fAITH
Now Faith is...
concerning things expected...reality,
concerning things not seen...confidence.
(Personal rewording of Hebrews 11:1)
We look to the future. Yet even scientific discoveries, statistical analysis, and historical research leave many questions unanswered. There are problems needing resolution. There are deep needs that yearn for fulfillment. We often feel a void of uncertainty.
What is it that offers hope? What is it that offers the possibility, or better yet, a true expectation of filling the void or solving the problem? What is it that provides the confidence that tomorrow’s uncertainties will be manageable?
What is that unseen force, power, or being that gives you strength of confidence and a real expectation that with it, you can face tomorrow; you can overcome life’s uncertainties, your needs will be met?
Do you expect financial success to provide?
A higher paying job, a more lucrative investment, a bigger or better deal?
Do you expect career to provide?
A step up on the career ladder, more authority at work, your own business, career success?
Do you expect physical strength or beauty to provide?
A quest for health and a longer life, pursuit of strength that cannot be overcome, pursuit of beauty to charm and sway the hearts of men?
Do you expect knowledge to provide?
A greater knowledge and a deeper wisdom to outthink and outwit and outlast life’s competitors?
Do you expect the relationship of family, friends, or associates to provide?
The acceptance and tolerance of friends and family; a relationship with someone of importance, someone of wealth, someone of power?
Men have pursued these and other things to provide confidence and hope to meet the challenges of life’s uncertainties.
And yet...
If financial success is that which provides hope and confidence...wealth is your god.
If position or fame is that which provides hope and confidence...success or power is your god.
If physical strength or beauty is that which provides hope and confidence...your body is your god.
If knowledge and wisdom are that which provide hope and confidence...intellect is your god.
To what or to whom do you turn when conflicts arise in your life? When uncertainties and needs arise, who or what first comes to your mind? Who or what stands foremost in your mind as the reality that can bring about needed changes to solve your problems and fill your needs?
Or, do you, perhaps, simply trust in yourself??
The object in which you place your faith, that which, though perhaps unseen, stands as the reality in your life on which you depend for answers… that is your god/God!
I am the Lord your God . . .
You shall have no other gods before Me.
--Exodus 20:2-3
Mark Stinnett
July 21, 2024
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A Crown of Humility
Not in our century and not in our country, a man once rose up from an evening meal, removed his outer cloak and wrapped a towel around his waist. He filled a basin with water and one by one washed the feet of each guest, drying their feet with the towel. Oddly, this man was also a guest. No, he was more than a guest. The other guests were his closest followers, and he was their teacher.
Had an onlooker peeked inside, he would not have gasped at the obvious reversal of roles. He would have seen an ordinary-looking man washing the feet of ordinary-looking guests according to custom. Yet, the disciples knew that Jesus was no ordinary man. They had witnessed His miracles, had listened to His teachings, had been given authority by Him. Even so, not everything about Jesus fit their expectations.
They called him Lord and Teacher. Yet He washed their feet. There were twelve men who had supper with Jesus, twelve pairs of feet…
… Judas, Thaddeus, Simon,
… James the Lesser, Bartholomew,
… Matthew, Thomas, Philip,
… John, James, Andrew, Peter.
One would betray him;
one would openly deny him;
all would run away.
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Do not misunderstand. Jesus was not downtrodden, worn out, or depressed. He had not been beaten by the enemy. He had not been demoted. He was not a broken shell of a man who was now resigning himself to his pitiful lot in life as a house servant.
He was the Messiah, the anointed one, Son of David: the coming King. He was Deity in the flesh. And without removing his identity and without removing his role, He clothed himself with humility and became a servant.
Did anyone in that room understand what had happened?
Was anyone moved by this act of humility?
Was anyone just a little embarrassed?
Divine Royalty stooped to the ground to perform the task of an insignificant servant.
He calls his disciples to follow in his footsteps, to humble themselves as servants.
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No one is asked to remove his/her role in life as husband/father, wife/mother, elder, deacon, preacher, CEO, president, director, foreman, owner, employer, student, teacher, laborer, or any other role. However, the call IS to stoop down and, without removing your identity, clothe yourself with humility, and imitate the Master.
Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bondservant, and being made in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. —Philippians 2:4-8
Our King crowned Himself with humility. How will you respond to our Teacher, our Master?
Mark Stinnett
July 14, 2024
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Always Saved? ("Yes" and "No")
The book of 1 John assures Christians of their salvation in Christ. However, some have taught that a Christian is always saved and can never lose their salvation. Turning to the book of 1 John, let’s answer an important question: Is a Christian always saved?
“Absolutely, Yes!”
John wrote his first letter to Christians who must have lacked confidence in their salvation. He offered convincing truths to build their confidence. Consider the following statements in John’s letter: 1:7, 2:1, 2:25, 2:28, 3:18-21, 4:17, 5:13.
Christians were being deceived about their salvation (2:26). John wanted to bolster their confidence by ensuring them that they would not lose their salvation. We are encouraged that God has not and will not abandon his children. The children of God have confidence that God will never change his mind or makes new requirements for salvation. He will honor all his promises regarding salvation.
So, in that respect we can confidently say, “Absolutely Yes!” Once a person has been saved, he/she has confidence in God’s promises. They will never lose their salvation.
“Absolutely Not!”
Some say that a Christian cannot fall from God’s grace. John also gives us insight into this claim in his brief letter. Remember that John was addressing those who were already saved (2:12-14). In the first chapter He reminded them of their fellowship with God through Christ. Then in the very next chapter he boldly stated:
I am writing these things to you that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father….(2:1)
John’s intent was for Christians to avoid sin. Yet in the same verse he acknowledged that a Christian might sin, but that there is a remedy for sin for the Christian: confession of one’s sins. However, if anyone refuses to confess his sins, or if he returns to a life of sin, then he walks in darkness and has no fellowship with God.
John takes it a step farther saying that anyone who hates (rejects) his brother walks in darkness. The one who hates his brother is “of the evil one” (3:7-10). So, the Christian who hates his brother has returned to a path of darkness. He no longer walks in the light and consequently forfeits his fellowship with God.
For that reason, we must answer, “Absolutely Not!” Salvation is conditional. A Christian must not adopt a casual attitude toward sin and return to his former way of life. In doing so, he will no longer have fellowship with God and will forfeit his salvation. It is important to see that, in this case, God has not abandoned his child. Rather, the child has abandoned his Father.
Conclusion
John’s letter was written to bolster the confidence of Christians. Our confidence is rooted in our salvation through Jesus. However, confidence in one’s salvation is not a license to sin.
Because of our changed nature sin is no longer our way of life. For that reason, the blood of Jesus continues to cleanse us from sin. And yet, the blood of Jesus does not cleanse those who are opposed to God. It does not cleans those who return to their old life in spiritual darkness.
God will keep his promises. The question is whether YOU will faithfully hold to Christ and His promises.
Mark Stinnett
July 7, 2024
