Lamar Street Church of Christ

05/20/2026

10/27/2024

Another successful community event on yesterday.
Our Jacob’s Closet Outreach Ministry🙏🏽🙏🏽
Feeding, clothing and spreading God’s Word in our community.

10/28/2023

Fellowship today at our Jacob’s Closet Outreach Ministry

10/28/2023

Church outreach ministry

11/11/2017

2017 Ladies Inspiration Retreat, Camilla Ga

06/04/2017

Come out and worship with us today

02/07/2017

LIES OF SATAN
Jimmy Ferguson

On one occasion when Jesus was speaking of Satan, He said that he [Satan] “abode not in the truth, because there was not truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it” (John 8:44). Satan is the author of deception and he has utilized this method of enticing man since creation (Gen. 3:4). Some of Satan’s most destructive work is in the field of religion. Let us consider some of his lies.

MAN IS SAVED BY FAITH ONLY. Satan has deceived great masses into believing that one can simply say the “sinner’s prayer” in order to be saved; or to simply ask Jesus to come into your heart and to accept Him as one’s personal Savior. Thus, all one has to do is simply believe and one will be saved. However, the Bible says, “Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only” (James 2:24). This is the only time in the Bible where these two words are seen together and it says very plainly, “not by faith only.” Jesus said, “Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven” (Matt. 7:21). There is something man must do. Saul of Tarsus was told to “be baptized and wash away thy sins,,,” (Acts 22:16). People on Pentecost were told, “Repent, and be baptized...in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins...” (Acts 2:38). It is a lie to say that one is saved by faith only.

ONCE SAVED, ALWAYS SAVED. Satan has soothed the consciences of many by deceiving them into thinking that once an indiviual is saved, he can never fall from the grace of God. The Bible repudiates this lie. Paul wrote to some who had fallen saying, “...whosoever of you are justified by the law, ye are fallen from grace” (Gal. 5:4). He also wrote, “To him that thinketh he standeth, take heed lest ye fall” (I Cor. 10:12). Our salvation is conditional. If we obey the gospel (Acts 2:38), we will be saved from sin. Our continued justification (salvation) is also conditional. If we continue to obey the Lord (John 8:31), we will remain saved; if we do not, we fall.

BAPTISM DOES NOT SAVE. Another of Satan’s lies is that baptism is not essential to salvation. However, Jesus said, “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned” (Mark 16:16). Peter wrote, “The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), by the resurrection of Jesus Christ” (I Peter 3:21). Whom will you believe?

ONE CHURCH IS AS GOOD AS ANOTHER. Satan has deceived many into thinking that one church is as good as another and that the church has nothing to do with salvation. However, Paul wrote that the church and the body are one and the same institution (Eph. 1:22-23). He then wrote, “There is one body” (Eph. 4:4). He also wrote that Christ is the “Savior of the body” (Eph. 5:23). Thus, Jesus is the Savior of His body or His church. Furthermore, when one is baptized into Christ, the Lord then adds that individual to His church (Acts 2:38, 47).

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A POWERFUL SERMON.... As the mother was completing the purchase of a new suit for her five year old son, he proudly said, “Won’t I look nice in Bible school Sunday?” A friendly lady standing nearby heard him and asked, “Do you go to Bible school?” The small boy replied, “Where else would I go on Sunday morning?” Blushing, the lady remarked, “That’s the most powerful sermon I’ve every heard!”

12/21/2016

When Worship Is Worthless

by Ben on June 5, 2013 in Worship
WorthlessWorshipBrother Johnson comes to church every Sunday and hasn’t missed a service for the past 50 years. Yet, he is very materialistic and is stingy in his contribution to the Church. He usually comes to the midweek Bible study, too, unless he hears about an estate auction he wants to attend.

Brother Williams, in addition to being a faithful church attendee, is recognized as an avid student of the Bible. He prays and has devotionals with his wife and children every night. But he’s insensitive, cold-hearted, and has reputation for having a short fuse if anyone, especially a family member, angers him.

Sister Smith looks forward to church all week long. She wouldn’t dream of missing a service. And boy does she enjoy those old Gospel hymns! But everyone knows she is a constant gossiper. Several have been deeply hurt by her vicious words.

What’s wrong with these pictures? How can some Christians be so religious – both publicly and privately – while being so unlike Christ?

The problem with these Christians is this: their worship has become an end in itself. They are no different from the ancient Jewish leaders who loved to worship and tithe “mint and dill and cumin” (Matt. 23:23). They are very religious, but are far from holy. They have forgotten the very things worship is supposed to cultivate in the heart: justice, mercy, faith, and humility (Matt. 23:23; Luke 18:13). God rejects their worship, just as He rejected the worship of the hypocritical Jews (Amos 5:21-24; Micah 6:6-8). Though they are religious, their hearts are far from Christ (Matt. 15:8). Their worship is worthless.

Many are under the illusion that worship is what makes them Christians. And thus they go to church, week after week, year after year, unchanged and unaffected. They realize, after all, that Christians have the obligation to be faithful in attendance (Heb. 10:24-25). But they leave the church building with the same self-centeredness, indifference, pride, and materialistic mindset they had when they entered.

Are you suffering from this spiritual disease? Note some of the symptoms:

1. Inconsistency. Many compartmentalize their beliefs and habits. They fail to put to practice what they say and teach. For example, some worship God in song and prayer on Sunday, but turn around and gossip about their fellow man (cf. Jas. 3:9). Some feel very strongly about attending church and engaging in the Lord’s Supper with the brethren (cf. 1 Cor. 11:17-33), but immediately after service deal harshly their family.

2. A ‘holier-than-thou’ attitude. Do you feel like you have God’s favor because you regularly attend worship or because you regularly read your Bible? Do you compare your faith to others instead of God’s Word (Jas. 1:22-25)? If so, you’re no different than the Pharisee in Luke 18:9-12 who “treated others with contempt.”

3. Misplaced confidence in worship. Are you dishonest, lazy, and materialistic? Do you acknowledge these things, but justify them by saying, “I know I sin, but at least I worship regularly”? Some wink at their sin because they have fooled themselves into thinking that their worship “covers a multitude of sins.” Never mind about “walking in the light,” they think, so long as they are “walking to church.”

When worship becomes an end in itself, worship is vain. We may be worshipping correctly, but we are not worshipping “in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24). True worship should do something to us. It should make us different people. “As He Who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct” (1 Pet. 1:15). True worship should always lead us to holy living.