Highland Lakes church of Christ

“Hello . . . Yes . . . Oh, you‘re Johnny‘s teacher. I‘ve been meaning to call you . . . No, he isn‘t planning to be in school this year. You see, he had so much work to do at the church – school lessons, church services, youth activities and such take up his time; then there are daily devotionals at home and other interests, so there isn‘t much time left for school . . .

―Well, yes, I know that school is important, and I know that you are doing a fine job with the kids in this community — and I‘ve been intending to write a letter of appreciation to the school, I surely would hate to live in a place where there were no schools . . .

―To tell the truth, Johnny didn‘t like school too well last year. Besides all those examinations, having to bring home a report card showing his progress was embarrassing to him. He suffered some psychological effects because so many girls are attending school, he thought he was a ‘sissy‘, so he decided he would not attend this year . . .

―Am I making him go? Of course, I‘m not! I knew a family once that made their child go, and he wound up hating school. I don‘t think his educational growth will be harmed. I will use my influence to get him to attend football games, plays etc. . . .When hunting season is over, his father will be able to take him. I really think the old methods of education are outdated anyway . .

―Yea, if he were to decide that he wanted to return to school, it would be alright with me, I just want this decision to be his.”

~~ This article appeared in the San Jacinto Church of Christ Bulletin, October 31, 1979, by ―Author unknown.

“Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces.” (Matthew 7:6). Jesus made this statement in His great Sermon on the Mount. But what does this verse mean?

Throughout His earthly ministry, Jesus taught His disciples to be kind, courteous, loving and compassionate to others. However, He also taught that His disciples are to be good stewards of their time and of the Gospel. When Jesus made this statement about casting pearls before swine, He was using language that illustrates the importance of stewardship.

Think for a moment about one of the most precious possessions you have. It may be a piece of jewelry, an heirloom of the family, or some other treasured item. Now imagine taking that item and tossing it into a pen full of hogs. Would the hogs place the same value on your cherished possession as you do? No, rather than esteeming your treasured item, the hogs would trample it in the mud. Hogs simply do not recognize the high value of precious or sacred things.

When Jesus spoke of pearls, He was speaking of that which people highly esteem. There is something, however, that is more precious than pearls — that is, the Gospel of Christ. Jesus knew that there would be some people who would be so carnally minded they would not appreciate the riches of the Gospel. Some have made up their minds that they will not believe and obey Christ. To expend time and resources in offering God’s Word to such people would be like offering “casting pearls to swine.” There comes a time when proper stewardship demands that we “shake the dust off our feet” and move on to hearts which are more receptive to the Gospel (cf. Acts 13:49-51).

Christ’s followers must never use the “pearls-and-swine-teaching” as an excuse not to help or to teach others! Jesus instructed His disciples to “preach the Gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15). Nevertheless, this is the same Jesus who also warned about allowing hogs to trample precious pearls. It is not always easy to distinguish between those who truly are interested in doing God’s will and those who are not. Therefore, God’s people should pray for wisdom in making such distinctions.

• Mark Lindley Chapman church of Christ Ripley, MS

It’s a simple enough title and concept, but for each season and busy opportunity in our lives, there ought to be a reminder, “this is something for which I MUST pray” (Ps. 55:7; Zech. 8:21; 1 Thess. 5:17). Here are some things God’s people need to be lifting up and praying about NOW:

Pray for our country (1 Tim. 2:1-2). Our nation is in rapid decline. As a whole, our rulers, leaders, and educators are invested in calling evil good and good evil (Isaiah 5:20). They are interested in dividing us. Though our nation may never turn to God as the answer (more and more, He and His absolute will are the enemy), what will preserve this nation far more will be the intercessory prayer of the righteous people of God (that’s you and me!). We need to be praying for our rulers and, as much as faithful Christians can, be subjecting ourselves to our authorities (Titus 3:1-8). We MUST pray for our country!

Pray for our congregation and our outward influence (Colossians 4:2-6). Have you been praying for our evangelism efforts? Have you been praying for open doors for our neighbors and friends to come learn about Jesus here? Have you been praying for how you can prepare for spiritual conversations with those around you? Have you put feet to your faith in asking God for these things and then asking your neighbors for these things? We MUST pray about our influence.

Pray for our congregation and our inward strength (Phil. 1:9). Pray for our growth in spirituality and maturity as men and women who serve our King. Pray for our elders to have wisdom and godly judgment to help make the best decisions for the church here. Pray for our families to make the choices that glorify God consistently. Again, put feet to your faith and do something that contributes to the strength of the church here. Encourage an elder, volunteer to teach. Have a family devotional. Remember, faith (in God) without works (that are in obedience to His will) is dead. We MUST pray about our inward strength.

With just these three things, we have more than enough to take before the throne of God and beg His help and providence in our country and in our congregation. Shall we pray?

• Andy Baker Graeber Road church of Christ Rosenberg, TX

The word “potluck” means exactly what it seems to mean, a meal of chance. You reach into the “pot” to retrieve some food, not really knowing what you may find, because the dish was prepared by someone else. Personally, I think the best potlucks are church potlucks; table after table filled with casserole dishes, crockpots, and pie plates. Not only are potlucks incredibly enjoyable, they actually reflect good theology. Here are some lessons the church can learn from a potluck.

Potlucks Reflect the Mutual Generosity of the Church

We have probably all experienced a poor potluck. A poor potluck is one to which multiple families simply bring a 2-liter of Coke or a bag of chips (when they have the means to bring much more). At a poor potluck, the older ladies are typically wringing their hands and whispering to their husbands, “You may need to go to the store for more food.”

Let’s not focus on poor potlucks, but on ideal potlucks. An ideal potluck is one to which most families bring more than enough food to feed their entire family. These families show up not to be fed, but to feed others. When everyone shows up with selfless generosity no one goes away hungry, even those who can’t afford to bring much food.

This is precisely the way the church should function; not just at a potluck meal, but day in and day out. Our attitude should be that of Jesus. Christians should “look not only to their [our] own interests but also to the interests of others” (Philippians 2:4). We should desire “not to be served but to serve” (Mark 10:45). We should generously offer as much as we can possibly afford to share. When the whole church lives this way, we experience the same phenomenon the early church experienced, “There was not a needy person among them” (Acts 4:34). The abundance of the wealthy supplies the needs of the poor, “that there might be fairness” (2 Corinthians 8:14) and no one goes away hungry.

Potlucks Reflect the Hospitable Nature of the Church

The Greek word that we translate “hospitality” (see Romans 12:13; Hebrews 13:2) is “philoxenia.” It is a combination of the words, “phileō” (love) and “xenos” (stranger). Real hospitality is about taking care of strangers. Notice that “philoxenia” shares a root word with, “xenophobia,” (fear of strangers). Hospitality is the exact opposite of xenophobia.

Good potlucks leave everyone feeling like family (even if they wandered in from the street). Each member prepares a dish, hoping it will be shared with a complete stranger. Strangers, of course, bring nothing to the table and don’t even know they are going to be invited; but they leave as well-fed as anyone else. Every stranger should leave overwhelmed by the “hospitality” of the potluck table.

This generosity towards strangers should not be limited to potlucks, but should be our practice every day. Followers of Jesus should be looking for opportunities to do good to people who cannot return the favor. Here is what Jesus says about this sort of hospitality: “When you give a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, lest they also invite you in return and you be repaid. But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just.” (Luke 14:12-14).

Potlucks Reflect the Diverse Nature of the Church

Next to running out of food, one of the worst things that can happen at a potluck, is that everyone brings exactly the same thing. It’s not much of a meal when everyone brings fried chicken and no one brings side dishes. Good meals consist of a variety of foods.

Isn’t it wonderful when a potluck is multiethnic? Don’t you love when families of different ethnicities bring dishes that reflect their unique background, culture, and heritage? Everyone present has the opportunity to expand their palate by trying foods they haven’t tried before. You really get to know someone when you eat the food their mother used to make.

I have never met someone who thinks a potluck would be better if there was only one type of food. No one ever dumps all the food into one large pot and mixes it together before serving. And we do not look at the potluck table and say, “We’re going to try to overlook all of the differences here today and focus on what this food has in common.” No, we all understand that diversity is one of the greatest highlights of a potluck meal.

The same is true in every aspect of the church; diversity is one of the greatest highlights. Rather than being a “melting pot,” the church should focus on being like a potluck. We should recognize and celebrate the ethnic diversity of the people Jesus has brought to His table, people “from every tribe and language and people and nation” (Revelation 5:9). The diversity of people at Jesus’ table is a source of his glory and honor.

Conclusion Let’s strive to not only have potluck, but to be like a potluck. The church should be a gathering of diverse people, submitting all of their uniqueness to the “common good” (1 Corinthians 12:7). Everyone should have a burning desire to serve our brothers and sisters, but also a desire to serve the outsider and the stranger (Galatians 6:10). We should all make room for one another, just as Jesus made room for us (Romans 15:7).  – Wes McAdams

In the Bible, we are first introduced to the prophet Jonah in 2 Kings 14:25. “He [King of Israel Jeroboam II] was the one who restored the boundaries of Israel from Lebo Hamath to the Dead Sea, in accordance with the word of the Lord, the God of Israel, spoken through his servant Jonah son of Amittai, the prophet from Gath Hepher.“ Here we see him proclaiming the word of the Lord. The Lord desired to save Israel from their suffering in spite of their evil (2 Kings 14:26,27). In this account, we find no evidence of Jonah being unwilling or hesitant at all to do as God wished.

In the Book of Jonah, the Lord has a different job for His prophet. He commands Jonah to go and tell the Assyrian people in their capital of Nineveh to repent or be destroyed (Jonah 1:1,2). Instead, Jonah boards a ship going in the opposite direction. Famously he is tossed overboard and swallowed by a great fish provided by the Lord (Jonah 1:3-17). Jonah prays to God and, after three days, is spat out upon the land (Jonah 2). He does what God wants, and Nineveh repents (Jonah 3).

Why did Jonah not want to do what God wanted in this instance? Because Jonah knew that God was a “gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity” (Jonah 4:2). Jonah didn’t want God to forgive the people of Nineveh! He wanted God to destroy them, because the Assyrians were wicked. They were undeserving of mercy because of the crimes they had committed against Israel. They had it coming, and Jonah was unwilling to participate in their salvation.

The remainder of Jonah chapter four consists of God attempting to get Jonah to see people through His eyes: “…should I not have concern for the great city of Nineveh, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left—and also many animals?” (Jonah 4:11).

The book ends without us finding out if Jonah learned the lesson, but we have an opportunity to avoid the mistake that Jonah made. Do we see all people as people to be saved as God does? Do we see them as people He gave His only Son for? Do we see some of them as unworthy of saving?

• – Joshua Pettigrew Monticello church of Christ Monticello, AR