“What I Love about the Church” by Joe Palmer, Guest Writer

Posted by Chris Gallagher on Aug 31, 2010 in Uncategorized | 1 comment

The word “Church” is the most misunderstood religious word today. In Biblical Greek it means “called out.” In definition, it simply refers to those called out of the world and into fellowship with Christ. The Church consists of those people that are in a relationship with Christ.

One can no more accept Christ and reject the Church, than he can accept a man and reject his wife. The Church is the bride of Christ. Sadly many today feel like they can reject the Church and still have Christ.

To truly love the church you must first understand what the church is, and what it is established to do.

• The Church is those who have been saved, sharing the message of salvation. Acts 8:1-4

• The Church is the unworthy recipients of Christ’s love, loving those trampled on by the world, that they might see Christ living in us. I Cor. 15:9,10

• The Church is, those who have escaped the snares of Satan, by the power of Christ, aiding in the release of more prisoners. II Timothy 2:24-26

• The Church is not a museum for the saints, but a hospital for sinners.

• The Church does not preach a message of condemnation, but of a hope of heaven. Romans 8:1

• The Church is those whom the world calls hypocrites, but Christ calls forgiven. Matt. 5:1

• The Church proclaims a righteousness it cannot attain except through Christ, that more people may claim his righteousness. II Cor. 5:21

• The Church is the body that worships God, is saved by Jesus, and lead by the Holy Spirit.

• We are servants of Christ. We are His hands, His feet, His mouth on this earth.

• Whatever Christ will do on earth, he will do through the Church, and when the Church ceases to do His will he will raise up followers from the rocks to do his bidding. Luke 19:40

Why I love the Church:

• I love the Church because Christ is it’s head. Col. 1:18

• I love the Church because it is Christ’s bride. Eph. 5:27-32

• I love the Church because it is the spiritual house of God and his priesthood on earth. I Peter 2:5

• I love the Church because it is God’s household. I Tim 3:15

• I love the Church because all of whom the Lord saves are in His Church. Acts 2:47

• I love the Church because Christ purchased it with His own blood. Acts 20:28

The Church is the family of God. It is easy to point out the flaws in any family. I love my family and the Church. I love them both because they are both my family.

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About Joe Palmer:

(written by Joe Palmer)

Growing up in a small town in Arkansas with a Father and Mother who believed in the three W’s, Work, Worship, and Whippings, helps you understand that the simple things in life are really the best.  The reason most people don’t have a better life is they keep looking for an easy answer and ignore the simple answer. 

I was educated at Crowley’s Ridge College, A.A. Freed-Hardeman University, B.A. Bible and M.A. in Ministry.  Most everything else I learned came from the Bible and my parents. I am married to Leanna Palmer. At the time of publication we are celebrating five years of marriage.  God has blessed my life in so many ways, not the least of which is her. I live in Niceville, Florida where I am supported to be able to preach, write, and help people build a better life in Christ.

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Personal Note:

First, I thank Joe for taking time to wrote his article. That list of hiss love for the church are echoed (as he has shown) throughout the New Testament. I appreciate his sincerity and his love for the church.

Thanks again Joe.

Chris

“What I Love about the Church” by Scott McCown , Guest Writer

Posted by Chris Gallagher on Aug 30, 2010 in Uncategorized | 4 comments

I am fortunate that Chris was willing to give me a turn at “What I love about the Church.” I originally decided not to read everyone else’s post so that their posts would not influence me or make me try to be original, but I found myself reading them anyway. Every article deserves a hearty, “Amen, preach it brother!” Many of them make similar observations and I am certain I will repeat something already stated.

I grew-up in a Christian home. My parents and three of my four grandparents are (were) members of the Church. Many of my earliest memories surround assembling with Christians and having other church members over our house on Sunday evenings. Growing up there were two major influences other than my family they were Church and school. My adult life reflects those influences – I am a preacher, married to an elementary school teacher and I volunteer with a local school in a number of areas. Church involvement was never an option and neither was respecting and loving the Church. That is not to say my parents forced my involvement, but their example and instruction insured that I would dedicate myself to Christ and His Church. They taught me to love the Church. What I love about the Church, I learned from those before me.

I love the Church in view of the fact that God loved Her enough to PURCHASE Her at a sacrificial price (Acts 20:28). How can I not love the people for whom my God and Creator gave all that He had to give to sanctify? How can I turn my back on the Church when God was willing to not spare His Son so that the Church might exist? I love the Church because God loves Her.

I love the Church that is PRECIOUS to Her Groom (Eph 5:21-33). Paul’s description of the Church as the betrothed of Christ is a beautiful portrait. When ever I see a long-lasting marriage relationship that is beautiful and I see the way the husband dotes on his bride of many years, I think about Christ doting on His betrothed Bride – the Church. I think of how He is preparing Her for the day He presents His chosen Bride to the Father. How proud He is of Her beauty and accomplishments that glorify Him. I love the Church because the Christ loves Her.

I love the Church that has the PROMISE of an eternally joyous relationship with Her Husband (Rev 19). We as the Church – purchased and precious – await the day when we will welcome the Bridegroom who promised to come and take us home with Him to His Father’s house (John 14:1-6). I love the Church because the faithful will one day reunite in heaven with the Father and the Son.

I love the Church!

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About Scott McCown:

(Written by Scott)

I am a husband to a wonderful and patient lady who has graciously loved me for the last 21 years. I am a father to a 13 year old son who is too much like me for his own good and thankfully enough like his mom to balance things out.

I am a full time minister with the Parrish Church of Christ in Parrish, Alabama with whom I began working in July of 1999. I get paid to talk in church. In my spare time I read a good bit, hunt and fish some, play guitar, and am the volunteer Girls Jr. High Basketball team at Oakman Junior High School.

You can read Scott’s blog at http://scottmccown.wordpress.com

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Personal Note:

I want to thank Scott for taking time to write an article for the Preacher’s Pen. Scott’s writings on his website are encouraging and challenging. Each time he writes, his words are inspiring and heartfelt. I am glad to have him appear as a guest writer on the Preacher’s Pen. Be sure to stop by his website and give his writings a read.

Thanks again Scott for writing!

Chris

“What I Love about the Church” by Carl Feril, Guest Writer

Posted by Chris Gallagher on Aug 26, 2010 in Uncategorized | 7 comments

What I Love About the Church

by Carl Feril

When asked to write about my reasons for loving the church, it is honestly a topic too large for a single blog post. I am sure that we could spend long hours examining the Biblical foundation for the church. We might discuss topics like the price that our Father paid in offering his Son to purchase her, the vital connection between Jesus, the head and his purified body, yet somehow I think what is exposed through a very cursory reading of the books of Ephesians and Colossians will say far more than I could ever express. Allow me to express my personal sentiments, all with a Biblical foundation but perhaps expressed in a manner that might be just a little distinct from the eloquence that we read through the pen of the apostle known to us as Paul.

As we begin, let me say just a few things about myself. I didn’t grow up in a church-going family. We were the kids that parents worried their children might play with on the block. My exposure to things Biblical came through the path of the beautiful daughter of an elder. He would not allow me to date her unless I went to “church” with them. I went, but not because of a growing interest in things “spiritual”. I was infatuated with her, much to her family’s chagrin.

Between Cathy and some young engineering interns from Freed-Hardeman in Warren, MI, being patient with me, understanding that my questions were not typical Sunday morning Bible Class questions, and God’s longsuffering nature with a teen walking in darkness, I became a Christian and soon was preaching. I became a Christian in a very conservative church group and was soon steered toward the Bear Valley School of Preaching in Denver, CO. There I met my future wife, Janet, who would exemplify all that is right about the body of Christ to me.

Over the course of the next 40 years, I’ve been the pulpit minister for 4 different churches and served alongside two changing elderships for 27 years. I’ve been treated with tolerance, respect, patience, and kindness when I’ve been unworthy of all of those mercies. As a result, I’ve come to love the church because of my experiences serving among them.

I love the church because it is made up of the confused and bewildered. Over the years we’ve studied more strange topics than I even knew existed. We done textual studies and attempted to apply both the specifics and the general statements of New and Old Testament writers in a culture that was clueless about what we were doing. We’ve tried to apply women praying with veils, long hair on men, holy kisses in the assembly and “church cooperation” or lack of it, to suburban Denver, Colorado cowboys, and Kansas farmers. We tried to see how it fit, what God was saying, and always “knew we were right”. We were not dishonest with the text but often we were bewildered by the context, implications and cultural implications of not only the first century group but our own culture. We have had more in common with the Corinthian church than we knew as they struggled through the issues of what meat market delicacies could be purchased and consumed from which city market.

I love the church because it is made up of people who make a mess of their lives, both before and after coming to know God. Some of us came out of real darkness, not growing up with many limits beyond who was the biggest and toughest making the rules. We didn’t grow up knowing God had a standard, the reflection of his own nature, which he expected us all to strive toward. As a result, some of us were pretty battered and tattered before ever being introduced to the Christ. We brought broken relationships, multiple scars, children from transient dalliances, and both physical and emotional addictions into the church. All of those who “never missed a Sunday” had their own sinful willfulness that they carried around with them. As a therapist dealing with church members from across the United States, I have worked with and prayed for elders who had affairs, one who was a cross-dresser, others who mistreated their families and some who were gluttons. I’ve seen Christians walk away from their families for years before recognizing they had to return to God and his family. That the church is made up of such people, struggling to follow God in a corrupted culture and broken society, is an inspiration to me – offering hope that perhaps, I too, might find grace to help in the time of need.

I love the church because it is ever changing, recognizing that it is never perfect. I know we all get stuck at times. But we aren’t, for the most part, fussing over the same issues we were 40 years ago. Churches that don’t change are headed for the disaster of being ostracized and inept in their communities. No one thought the Amish to be odd or different in 1860 when everyone wore beards, made their own clothing, and drove buggies. They could have discussions about how God was touching their lives and the issues of the day that were shared by every other person in their community. Move ahead 150 years and they no longer have any impact beyond slowing traffic and being the object of jokes. We can’t arbitrarily pick a year, say 1971 (when I became a Christian) and decide we won’t change from that date. “Jesus Freaks”, the Viet Nam War, LSD, and the Holy Spirit indwelling the individual through the word only or personally were the issues of the day in the church. We wouldn’t be touching many lives if we did most of our lessons around those topics in my community.

Finally, I love the church because God loves her. This is really the issue. I try to do the things God does. If he can be forgiving, tolerant, and merciful to a messed up, confused, and struggling group of disciples who try, fail, then try again, so can I. If he can love me, I can love them. We aren’t any different. I don’t get a free pass with my favorite sins, while holding others accountable for their favorites. The grip that alcohol has on me still, even with 40 years of sobriety, reminds me that sin is not easily abandoned. While I haven’t had the drink, it isn’t because I haven’t wanted it. I haven’t been as successful with others of my sins. My arrogance is an all too familiar figure, my desire to slant the truth to improve my appearance or position still crops up from time to time. I work each day to deal with my explosive temper, doing much better at least in not hitting others, but failing to curb my tongue which can flail the skin from my brothers just as quickly. My brothers and sisters have their own struggles. Some have sins of sexual natures, both hetero and homo sexual. Some fail in regard to pornography, or gluttony, greed or stinginess. There are those who struggle being forgiving, others who are self willed or rebellious. God still loves them. He offers forgiveness to all who are his. I won’t give myself permission to do any less.

Why do I love the church? I love her because she is home, and one day will be perfected by the God who saves her. I can’t do anything else. Can you?

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About Carl Feril:

Carl Feril preaches for the St. John, KS church. Carl and his wife, Janet, have lived in Stafford County for the past 27 years. The Feril’s, along with their ministry team partners, Tom and Pam Turner, work in a joint ministry to challenge growth and spiritual development for disciples in all stages of their walk before God. Carl works as the session co-director for the Silver Maple Family Camp each year as well as serving on the board of directors for the Black Hills Bible Camp where he collaborates with the college students from 11pm until 2 am each night about the future of God’s kingdom in the near future.

In addition to his preaching ministry in St John, Carl is a Clinically Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. He works with preschool through high school students and their families in two school districts in Stafford county one day per week each. He also sees families in private practice in two private offices. Working with families and individuals in various stages of discipleship has opened his eyes to exciting opportunities and inspires new hope for the future of God’s body until He returns to glorify us.

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Personal Note:

First, thanks to Carl not only his this article and his willingness to writes it, but for his personal struggles expressed in this article. Having met Carl earlier this year, I  was (and still am) encouraged by this words and thoughts. He and Janet do great work in Kansas as well as with a family camp and they are to be commended. Thanks again Carl for expressing your love for the church.

Thanks,

Chris

“What I Love about the Church” by Trey Morgan, Guest Writer

Posted by Chris Gallagher on Aug 24, 2010 in Uncategorized | 3 comments

Let me tell you why I love the church… because the church is full of some amazing people. Yes, I know there are a few old grouches, but all in all, the church is full of the most loving, caring and gracious people. As the old saying goes, “the church is the light of the world, and every good light attracts a few bugs.” There will always be a few old bugs, but I’ve met thousands and thousands of Christ-like people. People who make me proud to say, “I’m a Christian.”

• Like the man from church who had a homeless woman ask him what time it was and he felt the God prompting him “Don’t just tell her the time, give her your watch.” So he did.
• Like teenagers I know who did an “extreme home makeover” on the home of one our older ladies who could not do nor afford to do it herself.
• Like the men I heard of recently that meet up at their building every Monday night so they can volunteer their time to do maintenance on the vehicles of those people who can do it themselves. So while the single mom attends a divorce recovery class at the church building that night, a grease-smeared hero with his back on a concrete floor replaces the U-joints on her car.
• Like a young family who was going into a restaurant for a family meal together when they were asked by a homeless man “can you buy me some lunch?” They did one better; they asked him to join them at their table to eat with their family.

The church is not a building, but people; a people who demonstrate their love for God by loving and serving others. Let me encourage you this week to get out of your comfort zone and serve someone else. Look around and find someone to love and serve. This is church and it’s what I love about the church.

"In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." (Matthew 5:16)

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About Trey Morgan:

The two best decisions I ever made were both made early in life. At a young age I decided to follow Jesus, and not too much later in life, I decided to follow around a cute brown-eyed girl named Lea. After 21 years of marriage, Lea and I find ourselves loving our marriage together and the joys of raising our four boys, Taylor, Parker, Connor & Cooper.

At our house you’ll find a crazy cat named Dummy-Cat whose only goal in life is to figure out various ways to sneak into the house, and a very old poodle named Cocoa, who refuses to go and be with the Lord. It’s also not unlikely to find at our house a few extra boys over for supper or a baseball game.

I’ve been in ministry for twenty-three years and actually feel a little guilty that I’m getting paid to do what I love to do. I love to try and live my faith out-loud. I personally believe that church isn’t something you simply do on Sunday, but how you live every day of the week.

I love simple things like a good story, a good joke and a good cup of coffee. I’m also an avid runner.

A battle with cancer in 2003 helped me to rediscover the important things in my life … faith, family and freedom in Christ.

You may read more of Trey’s writings at http://www.treymorgan.net

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Personal Note:

I want to thank Trey for making time during his busy schedule to write for the Preacher’s Pen. If you are not familiar with Trey, you should take some time and visit his website. While you are there, you will read thoughts of a man with a HUGE heart for people. He cares about their spiritual need as much as he cares about their physical needs. He is a man of words and actions and he is a great example. Thank you Trey for all you do and may God continually bless you and your family!

Thanks again for writing for us!

Just some thoughts,

Chris

“What I Love about the Church” by Joey Sparks, Guest Writer

Posted by Chris Gallagher on Aug 23, 2010 in Uncategorized | 2 comments

What I Love About the Church…

As an undergraduate student, I studied the Daniel 2 prophecy of the kingdoms for a debate on Premillennialism. That great interpretation sequence closed with the following words, "And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed, nor shall the kingdom be left to another people. It shall break in pieces all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, and it shall stand forever…The dream is certain, and its interpretation sure" (Daniel 2:44-45).

The most glaring application to me at the time–and probably the one most clear in the text itself–is that the kingdom of God will forever outlast kings, kingdoms, persecutions, politicians, laws and lands. Historically, many evil men and women have attempted to destroy the church and its influence. Many have changed the identity of parts of the church so that it is no longer the bride and body of our Savior. Through it all, the church remains.

After 5+ years of full-time work as a minister, I am still comforted by those words in Daniel 2 about the resiliency of the church. They give great comfort knowing that the church is victorious no matter the political climate or direction of any nation. But practically speaking, I am even more amazed by its resiliency in the face of day-to-day ‘humanity.’

Just like any nation, business, organization, or network, the church is comprised of people. In many of these secular entities, their demise can come swiftly because of its people’s ignorance, deception, quest for power, immorality, apathy, or plain stupidity. But when the church faces these dangers, she continues to love and serve the world around her.

The church lasts despite our imperfections because of the providence of a perfect God. Additionally, the kind of people who make up the church ensure that she is resilient.

The church my wife and I are privileged to serve is a family-oriented congregation. As such, it maintains a family atmosphere. In our brief time here, we have witnessed the church grow through some extremely difficult situations. We have talked with members and leaders about some of the struggles they endured before we arrived. I suspect many churches could have split, folded, or fizzled out in response to some of these setbacks. The people are committed to the Lord and to one another.

The church is the Lord’s people doing the Lord’s work. And I love the church’s resiliency. Through it all, the church remains.

"Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen." (Ephesians 3:20-21)

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About Joey Sparks:

Joey is passionate about the Bible, teaching it, and empowering people to meet their potential in Christ. He and his wife Amanda have been married for over 5 years and have worked both part-time and full-time with the Midway Church of Christ in Jasper, AL since 2003. He is a 2005 graduate of Freed-Hardeman University and is presently pursuing his Master’s degree through Amridge University. You can follow him on twitter and through his blog.

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Personal Note:

First, I thank Joey for his kind and challenging words to consider today. As I follow Joey on Twitter and read his blog, I am encouraged. I am thankful Joey has provided some great thoughts for our consideration regarding the kingdom and for our desire to become better people in the Lord each day.

Thanks again Joey!

Just some thoughts,

Chris