Waynesboro Church Of Christ

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Here are some articles and sermon outlines you may find interesting. Click on any title for the full text. Contact us for more information.Contact us for more information. Click on Title for Full Article.

Articles

THE SEARCH FOR THE ANCIENT CHURCH PORTRAIT
How would an artist paint the New Testament Church found in the Bible today? What would the image of the church look like if the painter only scratched the surface of the writings of the New Testament? Would the picture resonate with glorious images of tranquility and peace, or would the canvas depict hostility and conflict? If typical preachers were painters, the framed image hanging on the wall would be a magnificent masterpiece of joy, happiness, and serenity. The artwork produced would cause cranks to be calmed, discontents to be silenced, and false teachers to be repentant.

United In Christ: A Biblical Model for Community in the Church
The Stone-Campbell Movement was anchored on two pillars of emphases: the desire to restore the pattern of the New Testament church and the desire to restore unity in the fragmented denominational landscape. Because of these seemingly contradictory goals, the pursuit of unity within the movement has had a tumultuous journey. The church began as a movement based on unity, but the restoration stream of thought has certainly diverged from one another.

Identity of churches of Christ: a Study of Non-denominationalism
After being converted into Christ, I was trying to explain to my extended family the nature of the churches of Christ. During this conversation I mentioned that the church of Christ was not a denomination. My aunt then proceeded to ask, “What do you mean in stating that the church of Christ is non-denominational?”

Damaged in the Garden: a Study of the Nature of the Fall of Man
The identity of man is uncovered in the Garden of Eden. On that frightful day, Adam and Eve were deceived, ushering in the reign of sin. The text of Genesis 3.1-7 portrays this damning event:

CONSCIENCE AND LIBERTY: AN EXEGETICAL STUDY OF 1 CORINTHIANS 8
First Corinthians 8:1-13 has generated controversy. In this passage, Paul discusses eating meat sacrificed to idols. Various issues arise from this teaching. The principles of being a strong or weak Christian, going against one’s conscience, causing another brother in Christ to stumble, and the influence of idols have been widely debated. Also, this text has been used in different ways in dealing with today’s circumstances. This content has evoked division where the original meaning was to promote unity.

An Orderly Reading of Preaching Books to Improve Sermons
There are thousands of books on the art of preaching. Some books are beneficial while others are wasteful of time. A text on preach should be read at different stages of a preacher’s develop. Certain books are for developing the basics of sermon communication while other books polish the preacher’s style and delivery. Here is an orderly account of books to read on preaching.

MONEY, MONEY, MONEY
You have too little of it. Maybe you have too much of it. You have to work for it. You have to save it. You have to spend it. You have to give it. There are a hundred things to do with money.

The Archaeological Significance of Samaria on the New Testament Text
Reading through the New Testament brings one to the terms of Samaria and the Samaritans. These terms are quickly defined as a place and a people. But a closer study of these terms will provide a better understanding of the Biblical text.

HEAVEN IN 2007
The year of 2007 was ushered in this week. The Holidays are over and most people are making plans to shed a few pounds, focus on family, or move up in the company work place.

Profession or Calling: The Ethical Implications
The churches of Christ have a contradictory vision of the role of the minister. If a minister in meeting with an eldership to discuss coming to serve the congregation was asked, “Why are you a minister?” and he responded stating that “I feel like the Lord called me to the ministry,” would be rejected. If the minister responded in this way, the eldership would respond by telling the minister, “We are looking in another direction at this time.”

THE RESTORATION OF THE IMAGE OF GOD IN MAN
Creation in the image of the creator is both audacious and full of promise. In some limited way man was created as an icon of God. In the beginning God created man and female in His likeness and image. “Then God said, ‘Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.’

MORE THAN “SOUND”—HEALTHY
Many times in conversations my brethren will ask if a certain congregation is “sound.” From my experience, this question dealing with the “soundness” of the congregation is concerning doctrinal faithfulness. The individual wants to know if the congregation is practicing worship in accordance with the Biblical pattern found in the New Testament. Also, this question of “soundness” can be an inquiry into the identity of the local body, whether they fall under the Liberal or Conservative title.

GENERATIONAL CONFLICT
A wise preacher once said, “Church fights are ten percent doctrine and ninety percent personality.” Another variation on this perceptive slogan is “Church fights are ten percent doctrine and ninety percent generational.” Generational conflict could be at the source of numerous disagreements in congregations.

REPEATING THE DIVISON OF OPEN FELLOWSHIP
Pages in periodicals are revisiting the 100th anniversary of the 1906 U.S. Census officially dividing the churches of Christ and the Christian Church. Much ink has been spilled lamenting the separation or defending the broken unity.

An Exegetical Analysis
An Exegetical Analysis of the Heavenly Court Scenes in the Prologue of Job with Special Attention to the Identity of the Satan

The Purpose of Romans and the Edict of Claudius
The purpose of Romans can be detailed and complex with various theories concerning the intent of the book. Over the years people have given numerous explanations concerning the overall theme of the book.

GOD’S SOLUTION TO HOLINESS
“Holy, Holy, Holy, is the LORD of hosts” (Isa 6:3NASB). This verse creates a formidable problem for humanity. How does a perfectly holy God interact with profane humans?

Conflicting Countercultural Living
Christians live in conflict because we are attempting to find the proper balance between life in the world and separation from the world. The Bible is completely clear that Christians are not of the world.

THE RESPONSE TO FALSE TEACHERS: AN EXEGESIS OF II JOHN 7-11
How should faithful Christians treat false teachers in the church today? Should Christians show hospitality to those who they disagree with concerning doctrinal matters? What is the nature of the false teaching that the deceivers espouse? How close of a relationship can an individual have with the Antichrist?

The Role of Religious Journals in the Restoration Movement
“Christian freedom and academic freedom are enjoined in common cause—to seek truth without interference” (Diekema 75). Religious journals were significant in the formation of the Restoration Movement. Through the various journals....

PROVIDENCE FOR A POSTMODERN WORLD
The world has shifted from the modern mindset to an acceptance of postmodernity. With this shift from a rationalistic based faith to a spiritually based faith, the desires that people...

DOGS AND SWINE
Jesus’ discourse, called the Sermon on the Mount, offers an interesting statement to his listeners. During His lecture on the biblical...

A JOHANNINE THEOLOGY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
The subject of the Holy Spirit has caused controversy throughout the Christian dispensation. Pneumatology can be a complicated issue. This paper focuses solely on the Apostle John’s references to the Holy Spirit in the Gospel of John and the epistle of I John. The use of the Spirit in Revelation and 2 and 3 John will not be addressed.