 A NEWSLETTER FOR THE MEMBERS OF THE GREENWOOD CHURCH OF CHRIST
“THE FAITHFUL CHURCH”BY STEVE NIEMEIERMany are looking for the “perfect” local congregation. We must remember that a local congregation is made up of individual members that are not perfect but must strive for “perfection” (Heb. 6:1). In view of this let us turn our attention to a local congregation that Jesus stated had a “crown” (Rev. 3:11) that so many congregations strive for. The Church in Philadelphia (Rev. 3:7-13) is praised by Jesus for having strength enough to keep the door opened by Him and had not denied His name and had kept His word. He also praised them for persevering. He stated that those who overcome will have a pillar in the temple of God with the name of God written on Him in the city of God and Jesus will write on the faithful one His new name. Just what did the members of this congregation do? Evidently they did what Jesus wanted a congregation to do! Working together in peace without division (I Cor. 10-17); overcoming their own selfish desires for pre-eminence (III John 9); striving to be organized according to His will (Phil. 1:10); were not guilty of compromising the doctrine of Jesus (Gal. 1:6-10); worshipping as they should (John 4:23-24); practicing the proper love one for another (I John 4:7-11); attending the assembling of the saints (Heb. 10:25); considering one another to stir up love and good works (Heb. 10:24); bearing one another's burden's (Gal. 6:2); trying to restore those who had fallen away (Gal. 6:1; James 5:19-20); marking those that are disorderly (II Thess. 3:11-15) and any and all other responsibilities that a congregation has to be considered faithful in the eyes of Jesus. Is the church here a Greenwood “faithful” according to Jesus? We can answer that by evaluating our individual work that we are doing and by the collective work we are doing. As an individual member are you “faithful” in the work of the congregation “faithful” in the eyes of the Lord? |
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