Grant County church of Christ
October 14, 2007
WHAT DOES THE CROSS MEAN TO YOU?
Jerry W. Carmichael
On a hill outside the city of Jerusalem stood three crosses. On those crosses hung three dying men. On the center cross hung the sinless Son of God. Nearly two thousand years have passed and yet the cross of Christ stands as the focal point of human history and the changing point for the lives of all mankind. The cross meant different things to the different people who were there on that day.
To the Roman soldiers, the cross was a means of execution for the people they despised. They were often hated by the people they oppressed and they felt no grief about torturing and killing a few Jewish criminals. They even gambled to see who would get the clothes of the dying men.
To the Jewish leaders, the cross meant that their way of life would no longer be disturbed by the popular rabbi from Galilee. They rejoiced that they would not have to listen to his rebukes and condemnation of their hypocrisy. They had encouraged hatred against him and had black-mailed Pilate, the Roman procurator into pronouncing sentence against him. They even stood at the base of the cross ignorantly mocking their own Messiah.
To the disciples, though, the cross was the end of their hope. Many hours had been spent with their master as he taught them to live with love and joy and a life based on loving surrender to God as a Father instead of legalism and fear. What would happen to them now? Some forsook Jesus and fled. Some stood by him weeping. All of them waited with faith straining under a load of grief.
The cross is not the final chapter in the life of Jesus, for the Father raised him up from the tomb on the third day. Jesus went to the cross to bear our sins. He paid the price for sin, which is death, for us, in order that we might live in Him. Now He has ascended into Heaven where He sits at the right hand of the throne of God until He comes back in glory to receive His own.
What does the cross mean to you? Is it just a good story with a moral of trusting in God for victory? Is it just a historical event? Or do you see the cross as the ultimate gift of God's love and grace, where Jesus took away our sins and made us forever free to live for him and with Him? Think about the cross and give thanks to God who loved us and gave up His Son for us.
THE POWER OF ASSOCIATION
A young woman asked her minister about the advisability of an association with certain ones of the world. The minister placed a chair in the center of the room and instructed the young woman to stand in the chair. Then he said, "Take hold of my hands and lift me up to your level." But the young woman lacked the strength to do this. Then the minister said, "Let me show you how easy it is to pull you down to my level," and with a slight pull the young lady was pulled from the chair to the floor. Thus in our associations with those of questionable character we have two considerations: "Will I be able to lift him to my level?" and "Will I be able to prevent him from pulling me down to his?"
Heavens wisdom conveyed to us by the pen of the Apostle Paul teaches, "Be not deceived: Evil companionships corrupt good morals" (I Corinthians 15:33). Let none flatter himself with the attitude that he is an exception to the rule. The best weapon of the devil is "deceitfulness." How often have we seen a young soul taken in by the sparkle of some physically attractive, worldly personality; or a young Christian enter into marriage with some worldling under the illusion that she "reform" him, only to see hearts broken and lives dreadfully hurt. How sad to see a young Christian fall in with the wrong crowd! Heartache and disaster will be the bitter fruit. "Can a man take fire in his bosom and his clothes not be burned? Or can one walk upon hot coals, and his feet not be scorched?" Without doubt the drift into immorality in the church at Corinth began from inter-mingling with seemingly harmless influence. The prodigal son gravitated downward from a good home to associations with harlots and fallen characters.
To the average Christian, especially the young, worldliness is a real and constant peril. Let us guard our lives from sin by taking heed according to the word of the Lord. Live close to the Lord, and watch and pray that you enter not into temptation. LIFT as many as you can: dont let any PULL YOU DOWN!
INTERESTING PLACES FROM THE BIBLE
THE DEAD SEA
A salt sea in southern Palestine at the lowest point on earth. The Dead Sea is located at the southern end of the Jordan valley. With a water level approximately 1,300 feet below sea level, the surface of the Dead Sea is the lowest point on earth. At the deepest point of the sea, on the northeast comer at the foot of the Moab mountains, the bottom is 1,300 feet deeper still.
The Dead Sea measures approximately 50 miles in length and averages 9 to 10 miles in breadth, yielding a surface area of from 350 to 400 square miles.
The area of the sea to the south is extremely shallow. It is here that the destroyed cities of Sodom and Gomorrah most probably lie (Gen 19:24-29).
Except on the north where the Jordan River enters, the Dead Sea is nearly surrounded by hills and cliffs. From these hills, streams feed fresh water to the Salt Sea. In addition to these year-round streams and the Jordan River, waters flow into the sea from the winter torrents of several seasonal streams.
These water sources pour millions of gallons of water each day into the Dead Sea. However, the extreme hot temperatures and sparse rainfall (about two inches a year) cause an enormous evaporation rate which has kept the water level constant over the years. Due to the increased irrigation by the Israeli government, the volume of water flowing into the Dead Sea from the Jordan River is decreasing each year. Thus the level of the sea goes down proportionately.
Evidence of a Roman road across a peninsula has been discovered, indicating that at other periods in its history the Dead Sea was shallow enough for traffic to cross its southern tip.
Because the Dead Sea has several watercourse entrances but no exits, it is indeed a "dead" sea. Although lush vegetation can be found at the mouths of these tributaries, the water itself is very salty.
The salt and mineral content of the Dead Sea constitutes more than twenty-five percent of the water. This compares with about six percent mineral content in the ocean. The specific gravity of the water is greater than that of the human body, making it next to impossible for any person to sink in the Dead Sea.
The discovery of the DEAD SEA SCROLLS in caves on the northwest shore of the Dead Sea near QUMRAN has mustered renewed historical interest in this area. The remains of the ESSENE community at Qumran and the search for scrolls in the more than 250 surrounding caves focused the eyes of the world on a tiny sea devoid of marine life but bristling with mineral potential and archaeological promise.
Prayer List
ÌBill Mollett was recently diagnosed with colon cancer and will find out Tuesday October 16, his course of treatment.
Reminder
If you need a ride to church services please let Jerry know as soon as possible.
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Area Gospel Meetings
October 14 - 17, 2007
Pt. Pleasant church of Christ
Hebron, KY
Speaker: Bill Mead
Sunday: 9:30am & 6:00pm
Monday – Wednesday: 7:00pm
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Statistics
October 7, 2007
Attendance Contribution
20 $211.00
MEET WITH US
205 Hopperton Lane
Dry Ridge, KY 41035
Sunday AM Worship……..... .9:30AM
Sunday Bible Study………...10:40AM
Sunday PM Service……….. .6:00 PM
Wednesday Bible Study…... 7:00 PM
Minister: Jerry Carmichael
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