Hiawatha church of Christ

       The chief priest and the Pharisees sent officers to arrest Jesus. However, they returned emptyhanded. When they were questioned as to why they did not bring Jesus to them they answered, “No man ever spoke like this Man!” (John 7:46) It is interesting to note that Jesus did not intimidate these officers with power and might as some would suspect. Rather, Jesus made these officers think twice before arresting Him by the way He spoke! John describes the way Jesus spoke by writing, “He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword…” Rev. 1:16. This indicates that the words of Jesus are strong, powerful, and penetrating. The Hebrew writer concurs with John. He wrote, “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intent of the heart.” (Heb. 4:12) Today, when we listen to the w...

It was a cold winter’s morning.   Snow had blanketed the ground.   A father was walking out to his car to warm it up for his family.   He had to get to this task early, for they were on their way to church services.   As he sat behind the wheel welcoming the warm air coming through the defroster, he could see his family making their way through the knee-deep snow.   It was his son that had caught his attention.   He had chosen to step in his father’s footprints that were left just moments ago.   On one hand it was heart-warming to see his son following literally in his footsteps, on the other it was a mind-sobering thought to realize that one day he may be following metaphorically. The example of a father should never be taken lightly.   It is a great responsibility for fathers to train their children in the ways of the Lord.   The apostle Paul wrote, “And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the trainin...

Peter wrote, “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear” (1Peter 3:15). Within the context, Peter is discussing steadfastness amid wrongful suffering. When others observe our reaction to suffering injustice, it will naturally make them question the motivating force behind it. Peter states that we should be ready to answer. So, what is the hope of a Christian? I want us to consider three area where the Christian hope is identified. First, the Christian hope is that which anchors us. The Hebrew writer stated, “This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil, where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek. (Hebrews 6:19-20) Our hope is grounded in Christ. It is based upon His death, burial, and resurrection. It is by the...