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Christians Must Do
(Class by Gary Jenkins)

The Mystery- God's Eternal Plan
(Sermon by Dan Jenkins)

Why I Never Returned to the Pentecostal Church
(Sermon by Douglas Alvarenga)
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2 Peter 2:18-3:3 & Jude 16-19
(Class by David Sproule, on Wednesday, February 3)

The simple definition of a habit is “an action which is repeated often until it is the natural behavior in one’s life.” There are those habits which are good, those which are neutral and those which hinder us in our development. Think of the power of habitually doing that which is right, almost without thinking, because we have trained ourselves to always do that which is right. Take time to look at one of the habits of Jesus’ life.

His custom was always to worship God.  After His baptism and His temptation in the wilderness, Jesus began His public life. He returned to the town where He had been raised. “So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day . . .” (Luke 4:16).

Why do churches of Christ sing a cappella in their worship?  Is it because they have always done it that way and, rooted in their tradition, they are unwilling to change?  Or, is it because they are rooted in the teachings of Scripture?

Why do churches of Christ require immersion in water of a penitent believer in order to accept someone is saved?  Is it because that’s just the way they’ve been taught for years and, rooted in their tradition, they are unwilling to see it any other way?  Or, is it because they are rooted in the teachings of Scripture?

If someone outsmarted the smart man, what would that make him?  Wouldn’t that make him smarter than the smart man?  If someone outgrew the tall man, what would that make him?  Wouldn’t that make him taller than the tall man?  If someone bound the strong man, what would that make him?  Wouldn’t that make him stronger than the strong man?

When Jesus was living in a human body on this earth, He frequently cast demons out of individuals who were possessed by them.  Here is how Jesus described what He was doing, “No one can enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man.  And then he will plunder his house” (Mark 3:27).  The demons were being cast out because “the strong man” (a.k.a. “the ruler of the demons” in verse 22; a.k.a. “Satan” in verse 26) was being bound by Jesus.  So, what does that make Jesus?  Stronger than Satan!

– David Sproule
Thought for the Day
February 8, 2010