Posts by Westside Church of Christ (Page 3)

In his letter to the churches of Galatia, Paul is addressing Christians in a very personal and direct way. In chapter one, he marveled they were turning away so soon from him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel (Galatians 1:6). In chapter four he says, “I am afraid for you, lest I have labored in vain,” (4:11); and directly, “I have doubts about you,” (4:20). The fear these were going to continue down a…

There’s no doubt about it: What we prize, we praise. Whether we’re talking about our spouse, our children, our favorite sports team, our favorite restaurant or our God, it ’s true. It cannot be said that we ever can praise Got too much, but it surely is possible to praise Him too little. And that ’s something the people of God should seriously contemplate. In Psalm 34 David finds himself in the land of the Philistines (See 1 Samuel 21-22).…

In Ephesians 4:17-32 Paul through the Holy Spirit tells us what relationships look like when the will of God is loved and pursued. The passage also identifies 7 tendencies we might have to do great damage to relationships. These tendencies are crucial both to consider and to avoid. (1) The Tendency Toward Self-Indulgence. Relationships become all about what I want and what pleases me. People are “used” to serve the desires of the ones who makes a god out of…

But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere (2 Corinthians 2:14).   Few things in life are more needed in life than an appropriate sense of commitment. During times of discouragement and difficulty, how we need to focus on the priority, importance and place of commitment to Christ. Few passages explain the nature of commitment better than Paul’s words through the Holy…

“As the soldier follows his general, as the servant follows his master, as the pupil follows his teacher, as the sheep follows his shepherd, just so the Christian ought to follow Jesus” (J. C. Ryle). The term “disciple” basically means, “a learner, a follower, an understudy or apprentice.” The basic expressions occur approximately 270 times in the New Testament (but only in the Gospel accounts and book of Acts; it does not occur in the letters). In a way discipleship…

Thomas R. Sweatmon was born in 1876, possibly in Georgia. The truth is, there is very little information we know about him. He died in 1969 and is buried in Marionetta, Georgia. We know the year of his birth and the of his death, but not a lot is known about what happened in between. The little we do know is that he was an exceptional poet. It is told that he taught in singing-schools and loved to write songs.…

“If these walls could talk” is a way of speaking about a particular place where important or interesting events have transpired. Another way of putting it is “God only knows” all the things that have occurred in the place. For sure, there’s a place like that right here in Midland, TX. As a matter of fact it’s located on Brazos, only a couple of blocks from where Cherie and I live. While I doubt the History Channel will ever trace…

James 2 is a chapter well-known and respected by Christians because of its discussion of faith and works (cf. 2:14-26). In that section of Scripture, faith that doesn’t express itself in outward action is “no good” and “can’t save” (vs. 14), “dead” (vs. 17), “useless” (vs. 20) and “as the body apart from the spirit is dead, even so is faith without works” (vs. 26). There can be no living of a life well pleasing in the sight of God…

“The Lord is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation; He is my God, and I will praise Him; my father’s God, and I will exalt Him.” These are words from the singing mouth of Moses in Exodus 15:2. What other thoughts could have been expressed than that which he stated? Moses watched as God made a distinction between His people and the Egyptians though the expression of His power in the plagues against Egypt, their king,…

1. Where is God, or where will He be, in our marriage? Will God be missing-inaction? Will He be on the outside looking in? Will God be present, but not in charge? Will He be preeminent in our relationship as we honor marriage as He designed it? 2. Will I seek to act with the gracious character of Jesus even when I think my spouse isn’t? 3. Will the love described in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 be consistently desired and thoughtfully…

The wind has sure blown in West Texas over the last few weeks! While Midland has seen its share of dust in the air, the pictures taken by those in outlying areas with the dust storms have been incredible. Many have had to drive in those conditions and it sure causes the use of more caution and a heightened sense of alert, doesn’t it? It is one thing to drive on a calm, cloudless day; quite another to drive in…

If a person really loves God, that person will truly love His word. That’s even what Jesus said: “If you love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15). While a distinction can be made between God and His word, the two can’t be divorced from one another nor should they be separated. Scripture is God’s revelation of Himself – His greatness, beauty, power and will. To neglect or reject God’s word ultimately is to neglect or reject Him! We are to…