Dover Church of Christ

09/06/2026

09/06/2026

09/06/2026

09/06/2026

09/05/2026

**God’s Ledger of Life — What Am I Adding to the Church?**

In Sunday evening’s lesson, we considered a sobering question: **If God examined what He has placed in my hands, what would He find that I have actually done with it?**

Beginning with Belshazzar in Daniel 5, the lesson reminded us that human beings often measure life by visible things—position, possessions, accomplishments, reputation, and recognition. God’s measurement goes deeper. He sees our motives, faithfulness, opportunities, influence, and what we have done with what He entrusted to us.

**Key Points**

• **God’s assessment may be very different from ours.** Belshazzar appeared powerful and secure, but heaven’s verdict was, “You have been weighed in the balances, and found wanting” (Daniel 5:27).

• **God does not expect everyone to have the same opportunities.** In Matthew 25, the servants received different amounts, but the faithful servants received the same commendation: “Well done, good and faithful servant.” God asks what we are doing with what He has given **us**.

• **Every Christian either strengthens the work or makes it heavier.** Nehemiah 4:6 says the wall was rebuilt because “the people had a mind to work.” Congregations move forward when members stop waiting for someone else and begin asking, “What can I carry?”

• **Faithfulness includes the ordinary opportunities in front of us.** Luke 16:10 teaches that faithfulness in little things matters. One class prepared, one person encouraged, one need met, or one responsibility accepted may seem small—but God sees it.

• **We must not mistake preservation for stewardship.** The one-talent servant did not lose what he had been given; he buried it. The problem was not that he had less than others. The problem was that what the master entrusted to him was never put to work.

• **Our contribution must include truth as well as enthusiasm.** Romans 10:2 warns about having “a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.” Good intentions cannot make false teaching safe. Christians must continue studying and rightly handling God’s Word.

• **Our lives give credibility—or create obstacles—for the gospel.** Jesus said, “Let your light so shine before men” (Matthew 5:16). Honesty, kindness, humility, purity, faithfulness, and willingness to admit wrong all say something about the Christ whose name we wear.

**Notable Scriptures**

• Daniel 5:27
• Matthew 25:14–30
• Nehemiah 4:6
• Hebrews 10:24–25
• Romans 12:1
• 2 Corinthians 8:12
• Luke 16:10
• Romans 10:2–3
• 2 Timothy 2:15
• 1 Timothy 4:12–13
• Matthew 5:16
• Revelation 2:10
• Malachi 3:16

**Practical Takeaways**

• Ask what God has actually placed in your hands—not what He gave someone else.
• Look for small opportunities to serve instead of waiting for an “important” assignment.
• Bring encouragement, willingness, and initiative into the congregation rather than criticism and discouragement.
• Keep studying Scripture carefully so that zeal is guided by truth.
• Live so that your example makes Christ easier for others to honor.

**Memorable Lines**

“God did not put you in charge of someone else’s stewardship.”

“We do not need somebody else’s assignment. We need faithfulness with ours.”

One day, the Master will settle accounts. May each of us live so that we can hear the words every servant of Christ should long to hear:

**“Well done, good and faithful servant.”**

**Watch / Listen:**

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09/04/2026

Can a Christian Fall Away?

Can a Christian who has truly been saved later turn away from Christ and place his soul in danger? This lesson examined that question by holding together two important biblical truths: Christians have genuine security and assurance in Christ, but Scripture also repeatedly warns believers to remain faithful, abide in Christ, and take heed lest they fall.

The Bible offers neither constant fear nor false security. Instead, it gives Christians confidence in a faithful Savior along with a sober responsibility to continue following Him.

Key Points:

• Scripture warns Christians about a real possibility of falling. Paul told believers, “Let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall” (1 Corinthians 10:12). Israel’s wilderness generation serves as a warning that receiving great blessings from God does not make later rebellion impossible.

• Christians are called to perseverance. Hebrews 3:12 warns “brethren” against developing “an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God,” while Hebrews 3:14 speaks of holding our confidence steadfast to the end.

• Paul said some had “fallen from grace.” In Galatians 5:4, Christians seeking justification through the Law of Moses were warned that they had become estranged from Christ. The lesson emphasized that a person cannot fall from a place he has never occupied.

• Jesus also warned about failing to endure. In the parable of the sower, some “believe for a while” and afterward fall away. In John 15, Jesus tells His disciples to abide in Him and warns of what happens to branches that do not remain in the vine.

• Strong promises of security should not be weakened. In John 10:27-28, Jesus promises that no outside power can sn**ch His sheep from His hand. His sheep, however, are described as those who hear His voice and follow Him. Our confidence rests in the strength and faithfulness of Christ—not in the idea that our choices cease to matter.

• Falling away should not be confused with stumbling. Christians still sin and sometimes struggle. First John teaches that Christ’s blood continues to cleanse those who walk in the light and that God forgives those who confess their sins. Peter himself failed terribly, repented, and was restored.

• The church has a responsibility to help the wandering. James 5:19-20 and Galatians 6:1 remind us that when a brother or sister wanders, we should seek restoration with gentleness, wisdom, and love.

Notable Scriptures:

• 1 Corinthians 10:12-13
• 1 Corinthians 9:27
• 2 Peter 1:10
• Hebrews 3:12-14
• Galatians 5:4
• 1 Timothy 4:1
• Luke 8:13 — the transcript appears to say “Luke 18:13”
• John 15:6
• Matthew 25
• 2 Peter 2:20-22
• John 5:24
• 1 John 1:7-9; 2:1; 3:9
• John 10:27-28
• James 5:19-20
• Galatians 6:1
• 1 Peter 1:5
• Revelation 2:10

Practical Takeaways:

• Do not live in arrogant presumption: “I was saved once, so nothing I do now matters.”
• Do not live in paralyzing fear: “I stumbled, so Christ must have abandoned me.”
• Keep hearing Christ’s voice, following Him, and abiding in Him.
• When sin enters your life, confess it and turn back toward God rather than running from Him.
• When someone begins wandering, care enough to encourage and help restore them.

One memorable thought from the lesson was:

“A warning without hope can crush, and hope without warning can deceive.”

The Christian’s confidence is not that apostasy is impossible. Our confidence is that Jesus Christ is faithful. His promises are true, His blood cleanses, and those who continue with Him have every reason to hope.

Watch / Listen:

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09/03/2026

In this Sunday morning adult Bible class, we conclude our study of Jesus healing the man with the withered hand in Matthew 12, Mark 3, and Luke 6.

The miracle presents a powerful contrast: the man had a withered hand, while Jesus’ opponents had hardened hearts. When Jesus spoke, the man responded in obedience. The Pharisees, however, witnessed undeniable evidence of His authority and still refused to yield.

This lesson examines the danger of allowing human tradition to take the place of Scripture, the importance of combining truth with mercy, and the need to approach God’s Word with humility. We also consider the difference between genuine discernment and fault-finding, and why our goal should be to win souls rather than arguments.

The healing itself was immediate, complete, public, and observable—demonstrating the kind of miraculous evidence that confirmed the identity and authority of Jesus Christ.

Ultimately, this account leaves us with a personal question: When the words of Jesus confront our assumptions, will we respond like the man who listened and obeyed, or like those who saw the truth before their eyes and still refused to yield?

Primary texts:
Matthew 12
Mark 3
Luke 6

Additional references:
Hebrews 2:3–4
John 11
John 20:30–31

Dover Church of Christ
Sunday Morning Adult Bible Class

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09/02/2026

09/02/2026

# # What Is Before Our Eyes? — Romans 3:13–18

Wednesday night’s study continued through Romans 3 as Paul brings his case against humanity toward its conclusion. Having established that all accountable people have sinned and cannot stand justified before God on the strength of their own record, Paul turns to the ways sin reveals itself—in our words, our actions, the paths we choose, and ultimately in whether we keep God before our eyes.

The lesson challenged us not simply to recognize sin in the world around us, but to examine what our own speech, attitudes, and habits reveal about our hearts.

# # # Key Points

* **Our words reveal what is within us.** Romans 3:13–14 describes the throat, tongue, lips, and mouth. Deceit, bitterness, exaggeration, half-truths, gossip, sarcasm, and damaging speech are not minor matters. Jesus reminds us in Matthew 12:34 that “out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.”

* **Truth alone does not make every statement appropriate.** Before speaking about someone, we should ask: Is it true? Is it necessary? Am I trying to help or merely vent? Would I say this if the person were standing here?

* **Christians must use words to build rather than destroy.** Ephesians 4:29 teaches that our speech should be good for edification and should give grace to those who hear.

* **Sin can become easier through repetition.** Romans 3:15 describes feet that are “swift” to wrongdoing. Something that once troubled our conscience can eventually become almost automatic if we repeatedly ignore God’s warning.

* **Sin rarely affects only the person committing it.** Romans 3:16 speaks of “destruction and misery.” Selfishness, uncontrolled anger, bitterness, gossip, betrayal, and pride can leave consequences in families, friendships, workplaces, and congregations.

* **Sin does not produce true peace.** Romans 3:17 says, “the way of peace they have not known.” Genuine peace requires truth, humility, repentance, forgiveness, patience, righteousness, and submission to God.

* **The root problem is found in Romans 3:18:** “There is no fear of God before their eyes.” Biblical fear is not merely terror—it is reverence, awe, respect, and a settled awareness that God sees, knows, rules, loves, and judges.

* **Whatever we keep before our eyes will influence our direction.** Human approval, pleasure, resentment, and pride can steer our decisions. But when God remains before our eyes, we begin asking, “What is pleasing to Him?”

# # # Notable Scriptures

* Romans 3:10–18
* Matthew 12:34
* Ephesians 4:29
* Matthew 18
* Isaiah 59:7–8
* Matthew 5:21
* 1 John 3:15
* Psalm 36:1

# # # Practical Takeaways

* Guard your speech before it leaves your mouth.
* Pay attention when something sinful no longer troubles your conscience as it once did.
* Remember that your choices often create consequences other people must live through.
* Keep both God’s holiness and His grace in view.
* Regularly ask: **“What does God desire?”**

# # # Memorable Lines

> “Our mind focuses on the negative and too easily lets go of the good.”

> “If we take our eyes off of God, we’re going to wind up in a spiritual ditch.”

Next week, the class will move into **Romans 3:19–20**, where Paul explains the purpose of the law and declares that “every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.”

# # # Watch / Listen

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08/30/2026