Eastern Avenue Church Of Christ

Eastern Avenue Church Of Christ Eastern Avenue COC is the Church where Christ and Christians meet .We Believe that Jesus built and fo Photos and Events for the EACOC .

CHURCH OF CHRIST AT Eastern Avenue
Evangelist Norvie Cottingham Jr. Bible Answers for Bible questions,Spiritual Enrichment and connecting ,Evangelism . Where Are We: Currently our building is under going renovation at 658 Eastern Avenue . Worship Service is at 640 Eastern Eve, SE GR.MI.49506 off Eastern Avenue and Thomas next to our Church Building .Sunday School startl at 9:15am, Sunday Servi

ce starts at 10:15am . Second Service is at 6pm and mid week Bible Study Wednesdays 7:00pm. EACOC FACEBOOK MINISTRY CODE OF CONDUCT
The Eastern Avenue Church of Christ is centered around Reaching, Reviving and Restoring souls for Christ. The designated aim of our Facebook ministry is to meet the needs of the "whole person" through spiritual and social contact over the Internet. We believe that this energizing and encouraging endeavor can be achieved by devoting ourselves to a code of conduct that consistently exemplifies a Christ-like spirit and behavior. Therefore, each participant is asked to commit themselves to the following principles:

Use of any profanity or any derogatory images or languages is prohibited. Never introduce sexually explicit or pornographic topics, vocabulary, music, recordings, films, games, web sites, computer software, or entertainment. Sowing seeds of discord is not allowed. This is not the forum for discussing personal or internal matters of the church and its membership. Making negative or damaging statements about any member or the church leadership. Refrain from sharing or showing any confidential information without prior written consent that has been approved. Be aware that any suggestion of an illegal activity may be forwarded over to the church leadership and the local authorities. Failure to follow or act in accordance with this code of conduct will result in the Church Facebook Administrator and or Leadership restricting the member, guest or visitor from utilizing our services. We prayerfully expect you to have an exciting and spiritually uplifting experience on our page whenever the opportunity presents itself.

05/31/2026

Brother Norvie Cottingham Jr. ✝️

"The Vine, The Head, and The Way"

Scripture Reading
Romans 10:17
John 8:21
John 15:1, 11
Colossians 2:9, 19
Ephesians 3:17

Key Notes
When we have Jesus as Lord, we have everything we need:
He is the Vine who gives us life and strength.
He is the Head who directs and guides us.
He is the Way that leads us into truth and eternal life.
Jesus said, "I am the Vine, you are the branches."
Our connection to Christ is our source of spiritual life.
When we remain in Him, nothing of eternal value can be taken from us.
Apart from Him, we cannot bear lasting fruit.
The Joy of the Lord
Jesus desires that His joy remain in us and that our joy be full.
Joy is not based on circumstances; it is rooted in Christ.
Even in struggles, pain, disappointments, and anger, God's joy sustains us.
Count It All Joy
Every challenge is an opportunity to trust God.
Difficult seasons give us a chance to let our light shine before others.
Our testimony is strongest when we remain faithful during trials.
Takeaway
Stay connected to the Vine, submit to the Head, and walk in the Way. When Christ remains in us, our joy remains, our faith grows, and our light continues to shine regardless of life's circumstances. ✨🙏🏾

05/03/2026

“The Ending Is Better Than the Beginning”

Bro Norvie Cottingham Jr

Scripture Focus:
Philippians 1:6 — “He who has begun a good work in you will carry it on to completion…”

There’s something powerful about knowing that God doesn’t start anything He doesn’t intend to finish. What He begins in us—He completes. Not halfway, not partially—but fully.
Ecclesiastes 7:8 reminds us:
“The end of a matter is better than its beginning; the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.”
That means we can’t judge our lives, our seasons, or even ourselves based on how things start. Some beginnings are messy. Some beginnings are uncertain. But God is not defined by beginnings—He is the Author of endings.

Revelation 1:8 declares:
“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End…”

God stands at both ends of your life at the same time. He already sees what you’re becoming while you’re still trying to figure out where you are.
So the call is simple, but not always easy:
Trust the One who knows your ending from your beginning.

Proverbs teaches us:
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding…”
That means we don’t rely on our feelings, our logic, or what we see right now. Feelings shift. Situations change. But God’s plan remains steady.
We have to learn how to lean—not on ourselves—but on Jesus.

Transformation Happens “In the Land of the Living”
Before any final destination, God does His work right here—while we’re still living, growing, and becoming.
Look at the examples:
Abram → Abraham
Sarai → Sarah
God changed their names because He was changing their identity and their future.

In Genesis 12, God tells Abram to leave what’s familiar—his home, his comfort zone—and go to a place God would show him.
That’s the challenge:
Move before you have all the details.
Trust before you see the outcome.
Genesis 15 shows us that even when Abram had questions, God still reassured him. So doubt doesn’t disqualify you—God will meet you in it.
Closing Thought:
Your beginning might not look like much.
It might feel uncertain, uncomfortable, or even confusing.
But if God started it…
the ending will be better.
Stay patient.
Stay humble.
Keep walking.

Because God is still writing your story—and He always finishes what He starts

04/05/2026

The Committal”
Brother Norvie Cottingham Jr. ✝️
Scripture Reading
Matthew 26:6–13
Matthew 27:57–61
John 12:1
Ephesians 5:29–32
Colossians 2:18
Romans 10:4
Hebrews 4:9–10
Revelation 14:13
The Committal
The Final Goodbye… but not the Final Word
There comes a moment in life when something has to be placed fully into God’s hands.
That is what committal means.
It means:
to surrender,
to entrust,
to release,
and to place something precious in the care of God.
When Jesus was on the cross, He showed us the greatest example of commitment and surrender when He said:
“Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit.”
Notice this: He did not commit Himself to the earth.
He did not commit Himself to people.
He did not commit Himself to pain.
He committed His spirit to the Father.
That teaches us something powerful:
Everything in our lives must eventually be committed back to God.
Jesus Was Still in Charge
Even in death, Jesus was still in charge.
The cross did not take His authority.
Pain did not take His power.
Death did not remove His purpose.
Everything that happened around Jesus in His final moments was still under divine control.
That is why we must remember:
When God is in control, everybody else has to listen.
Even when it looks like things are falling apart,
God is still governing what looks broken.
That’s why we say:
“The Lord gives, and the Lord takes away.”
God is sovereign. God is intentional. And God is never absent in the painful moments.
1. Evening Approaches
There is something powerful about the phrase:
“Evening approaches.”
Evening represents:
closure,
transition,
stillness,
and the ending of a chapter.
Jesus had reached the evening of His earthly assignment.
And all of us will have moments in life where evening approaches:
the end of a season,
the end of a relationship,
the end of a struggle,
the end of an old version of ourselves.
But evening is not always defeat.
Sometimes evening is simply God preparing us for resurrection morning.
Just because something is being buried does not mean it is over.
2. A Rich Man Becomes a Disciple
Joseph of Arimathea is powerful because he was a rich man, but he became more than wealthy —
he became committed.
Jesus said in Matthew 16:24:
“If anyone wishes to follow Me [as My disciple], he must deny himself, set aside selfish interests, and take up his cross and follow Me.”
Joseph had position.
Joseph had influence.
Joseph had reputation.
But when it mattered most, he chose to identify with Jesus.
That is real discipleship.
Commitment is proven when following Jesus costs you something.
Anybody can be around Jesus when the crowd is shouting “Hosanna.”
But who will stand with Him:
when He is wounded?
when He is rejected?
when His body looks broken?
when the moment is uncomfortable?
Joseph did.
And that is what commitment looks like.
3. Joseph Asked for the Body
Joseph of Arimathea asked for Jesus’ body so he could prepare Him for burial.
That is deep.
Because when Joseph looked at Jesus, he did not see polished glory in that moment — he saw:
the whipping,
the injuries,
the wounds,
the blood,
the suffering.
He saw the visible evidence of pain.
And yet…
He still wanted to be connected to Jesus.
That will preach.
Because many people love Jesus in His miracles,
but fewer people stay with Him in the moments that look messy.
Joseph saw the cost of salvation up close.
He saw what love looked like after it had been wounded.
And that reminds us:
Real commitment does not walk away when things look damaged.
4. He Cared for the Body
Joseph handled Jesus’ body with care.
That matters because the body of Christ must always be handled with reverence.
He wrapped Him. He honored Him. He placed Him properly.
He cared for the body the way we are supposed to care for the Body of Christ today.
And who is the Body today?
The Church.
That means we have to ask ourselves:
How do we handle one another?
How do we speak about the Church?
How do we treat wounded believers?
How do we respond when the Body is hurting?
Because too many people mishandle what belongs to God.
You cannot say you love Christ and dishonor His body.
That includes:
gossip,
division,
tearing down,
unforgiveness,
and spiritual carelessness.
If Christ died for the body, then we should treat the body with honor.
5. The Head and the Body Must Stay Together
Jesus’ body was placed in the tomb, and your note is powerful:
Both His head and His body had to be there.
That is spiritual.
Because in Scripture, Christ is the Head, and the Church is His Body.
You cannot separate:
the Head from the Body,
Christ from His Church,
Jesus from His people.
That’s why the enemy works so hard to create separation.
He wants:
believers disconnected,
churches divided,
saints offended,
and the Body fractured.
But hear this clearly:
Where the Head is, the Body must also be.
If we claim Christ as our Head, then we must stay connected to Him and to one another.
Because a disconnected body cannot function properly.
6. The Stone Was Rolled Away by the Angel
They sealed the tomb with a big stone.
That stone represented:
finality,
closure,
impossibility,
and human limitation.
It was man’s way of saying:
“This is over.”
But heaven had another plan.
The angel rolled the stone away.
Not because Jesus needed help getting out — but because people needed to see that He was no longer there.
That means:
What man tries to seal, God can still open.
There are stones in our lives too:
grief,
disappointment,
fear,
shame,
church hurt,
spiritual exhaustion.
But if God sends an angel to move it, nothing can keep resurrection power trapped.
Whatever God has ordained to rise will rise.
7. Mary and Mary Leave a Message
Mary Magdalene and the other Mary stayed near.
They were present. They were watching. They were faithful.
Even in the sorrow of burial, they remained close.
That is powerful because some people leave when the atmosphere changes.
But these women stayed long enough to witness:
the burial,
the silence,
and eventually the resurrection.
And your note says:
Mary and Mary leave a message.
What is the message?
Stay near Jesus, even in painful seasons.
Stay near Him:
when you understand,
when you do not understand,
when prayers feel delayed,
when life gets heavy,
when all you can do is weep.
Because if you stay close enough through the burial, you will also be present for the breakthrough.

03/08/2026

God’s Sense
📖 Foundation Scripture
Hebrews 5:12 (AMP)
There comes a time when we should be mature enough to teach others—but instead, some still need to be retaught the basics. Still on milk, when we should be ready for solid food.
Key Thought:
God expects spiritual growth. Time alone doesn’t equal maturity. Growth requires hearing, learning, and applying His Word.
1. Spiritual Growth Requires God’s Sense
“Damn sense” (worldly sense, fleshly reasoning) has no real effect without God’s sense.
You can have opinions.
You can have experience.
You can even have education.
But without God’s Word shaping your understanding, it’s incomplete.
Actual growth comes from:
Actually hearing the Word
Actually learning the Word
Actually applying the Word
It’s not about what we think God meant.
It’s about what He actually said.
And God will judge us based on what He said in His Word—not on assumptions, feelings, or traditions.
2. Don’t Get Stuck on What God Didn’t Say
So many people build arguments around:
“God didn’t say I couldn’t…”
“That’s not exactly what it meant…”
But spiritual maturity focuses on what is written, not on loopholes.
God’s sense doesn’t twist Scripture to fit comfort.
It aligns life with truth.
3. Wisdom Comes from Association
📖 Proverbs 13:20
“He who walks with wise men will be wise…”
Becoming wise isn’t accidental.
It’s relational.
You become like:
What you consistently hear
Who you consistently sit under
Who you consistently surround yourself with
If you want wisdom, walk with the wise.
4. The Legacy of Godly Living
📖 Proverbs 17:6 (AMP)
“Grandchildren are the crown of aged men, and the glory of children is their fathers [who live godly lives].”
There is generational impact in God’s sense.
Godly living doesn’t just bless you—it crowns generations after you.
📖 Proverbs 13:21–22
A good person leaves an inheritance to their children’s children.
That inheritance isn’t just money.
It’s wisdom.
It’s character.
It’s faith.
5. Covering Offenses Shows God’s Sense
📖 Proverbs 17:9 (AMP)
“He who covers and forgives an offense seeks love…”
Repeating and gossiping separates friends.
Covering and forgiving protects love.
God’s sense chooses restoration over repetition.
6. Evidence of Maturity: Fruit
📖 Galatians 5:22–23
The fruit of the Spirit:
Love
Joy
Peace
Patience
Kindness
Goodness
Faithfulness
Gentleness
Self-control
Milk-level faith reacts.
Solid-food faith produces fruit.
7. Faith That Speaks
📖 Hebrews 11:4
Abel’s offering still speaks.
Faith leaves a witness.
Your obedience will speak even after you’re gone.
Closing Reflection
God’s sense is:
✔ Growing beyond basics
✔ Standing on what God actually said
✔ Walking with wise people
✔ Living in a way that blesses generations
✔ Producing spiritual fruit
✔ Covering offenses instead of spreading them
Spiritual maturity isn’t about how long you’ve been in church.
It’s about how deeply the Word is in you.
Now here’s the real heart question:
Are we still on milk…
or are we ready for solid food?
If you’d like, I can also shape this into a sermon-ready version with transitions and a strong closing appeal.

03/08/2026

Brother Norvie Cottingham Jr. shared.
Title:
“Have Some Sense — In the Biblical Sense”
Sometimes the problem isn’t a lack of knowledge… it’s a lack of Godly sense.
The Bible teaches us that wisdom shows up most clearly in how we handle conflict, our words, and our reactions to others.
Too many arguments start small and grow out of control because no one chooses wisdom early. God’s Word teaches us to recognize the danger before the dam breaks.
Stop Disputes Before They Start
First Epistle of Peter 3 reminds us to live with wisdom and be ready to give an answer for our faith.
But wisdom also means waiting for the right moment to speak.
Sometimes the best response is to pause, listen, and respond the way Jesus did.
Jesus didn’t argue with everyone who challenged Him.
He often waited for the right question and then answered with truth and wisdom.
The Danger of Letting Conflict Grow
Book of Proverbs 17:14 (AMP)
“The beginning of strife is like letting out water [as from a small break in a dam; first it trickles and then it gushes]; therefore abandon the quarrel before it breaks out and tempers explode.”
Once a dispute starts flowing, it can quickly get out of control—just like water breaking through a dam.
Other wisdom from Proverbs reminds us:
Proverbs 15:18 — A hot-tempered person stirs up strife.
Proverbs 17:19 — One who loves sin loves strife.
Proverbs 18:1 — Selfish people separate themselves and stir up arguments.
Proverbs 20:3 — It is honorable to avoid strife, but fools are quick to fight.
Proverbs 22:10 — Sometimes you must remove the source of the problem.
In other words: Locate the breach in the dam before everything floods.
Practical Godly Sense
1. Control Your Mouth
Words can build peace or ignite conflict.
Jesus said that truth brings freedom.
Gospel of John 8:31-32
“If you continue in My word… you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
And in John 18:21, Jesus showed wisdom by calmly directing people to the truth rather than arguing emotionally.
Sometimes self-control with our words prevents unnecessary battles.
2. Utilize the Power of Silence
Silence is often more powerful than reacting.
Ecclesiastes 3:7
“There is a time to keep silence, and a time to speak.”
Psalms 38:13-14 shows David choosing silence when accusations surrounded him.
Not every comment deserves a response.
Sometimes silence speaks louder than words.
3. Mind Your Own Business
Not every conflict is yours to solve.
Book of Proverbs 26:17 (AMP)
“Like one who grabs a dog by the ears [and is likely to be bitten] is he who passes by and meddles in a dispute not belonging to him.”
Jesus demonstrated this in Gospel of Luke 12:13-15 when someone tried to involve Him in a family inheritance dispute. Instead of stepping into the argument, He redirected the conversation to the heart issue.
Sometimes wisdom says: Stay out of it.
4. Practice Restraint
Godly wisdom includes patience and self-discipline.
Book of Proverbs 17:27
“The one who has knowledge restrains his words.”
Restraint means learning when to wait, when to speak, and when to walk away.
Self-discipline protects relationships and prevents unnecessary damage.
5. When You Know You’re Right — Restore Gently
Truth should never be used as a weapon.
Epistle to the Galatians 6:1 teaches that if someone falls into sin, spiritual people should restore them gently.
And Gospel of Matthew 12:20 reminds us that Jesus does not crush the weak.
Instead of kicking people when they’re down, believers are called to lift people up and help restore them.
Final Thought
When our lives please God, He can even turn enemies into peaceful relationships.
Book of Proverbs 16:7
“When a man's ways please the Lord, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.”
So the real question becomes:
Do we have “sense” the way the Bible defines it?
Godly sense means:
Controlling your mouth
Using the power of silence
Staying out of unnecessary conflicts
Practicing restraint
Restoring others with gentleness
That’s not just common sense.

02/22/2026

Brother Norvie Cottingham Jr. ✝️

“Having Some God Sense”

Theme:
Having God sense means developing spiritual awareness, discernment, and obedience to God’s Word. It’s the ability to see beyond natural thinking and respond according to God’s will. We must instill God's sense in our children. Most importantly we must use God's word to show them the correct way which includes being the right example of the same things you want the child to develop and manifest.

Foundational Scriptures
Matthew 15:14 – Blind guides leading the blind will both fall into a pit.
2 Corinthians 4:3–4 – The god of this world blinds the minds of unbelievers.
Hebrews 5:14 – Spiritual maturity comes through practice and discernment.
2 Timothy 1:5 – Genuine faith must first live in us before it is passed down.
Ecclesiastes 3:1–8 – There is a time and season for everything.
Deuteronomy 6:5–9 – Love God fully and teach His commandments diligently to your children.
Proverbs 6:20; 10:1; 13:24; 17:14; 29:15 – The importance of instruction, correction, and wise parenting.
What Is God Sense?
God sense is:
Spiritual discernment.
Awareness of God’s presence.
Sensitivity to when God is moving—or when He has departed.
The ability to make decisions rooted in God’s Word rather than emotions or pride.
Biblical Examples of Lacking God Sense
1. Samson – Strength Without Spiritual Awareness
📖 Judges 16:20 (AMP)
Samson assumed he could operate as he always had. He said he would “shake himself free” like before, but he did not realize the Lord had departed from him.
Lesson:
When we lose God sense, we may continue going through the motions without realizing God’s presence is no longer with us. Spiritual strength is not automatic—it requires obedience.
2. Adonijah – Pride Without Correction
📖 1 Kings 1:5–6 (AMP)
Adonijah exalted himself and declared he would be king. The Scripture notes that his father, David, had never rebuked him.
Lesson:
A lack of correction produces a lack of God sense.
Uncorrected pride leads to self-exaltation.

02/15/2026

What’s On Your Shelf?
Brother Norvie Cottingham Jr ✝️
Sometimes we tell people, “Act like you have some sense.”
But spiritually? That hits different.
As believers, we’re called to have spiritual ears. Not just hearing words — but truly listening for understanding. Not just reacting — but responding with wisdom.
Who Is Your Real Family?
In Gospel of Mark 3:31–35, Jesus makes something powerful clear. When His mother and brothers came looking for Him, He looked at the people sitting around Him and said:
“Here are My mother and My brothers… whoever does the will of God is My brother and sister and mother.”
That means our real family isn’t just biological — it’s spiritual.
It’s those who believe, follow, and do the will of God.
So the question becomes…
Who is shaping your thinking? Who are you sitting around?
Pay Attention to What You Hear
In Mark 4, Jesus says:
“Pay attention to what you hear.”
The measure you use — how seriously you study, apply, and respond to God’s Word — is the measure that will be given back to you.
If you come with a teachable heart? You’ll receive more understanding.
If you don’t value truth? Even what you think you have can slip away.
The same warning is repeated in Gospel of Luke 8:18 — be careful how you listen.
This isn’t casual.
This is intentional.
Few Words. More Reverence.
In Ecclesiastes 5, we’re reminded:
Be careful with your words.
Don’t make vows you won’t keep.
Don’t talk just to talk.
A flood of words can be empty.
But reverence? That carries weight.
Sometimes maturity looks like:
Listening more
Speaking less
Thinking before responding
Honoring God with our words
Trials Grow You
In Epistle of James 1, we’re told to consider it joy when we face trials. Why?
Because testing builds endurance.
Endurance builds maturity.
Maturity builds peace.
But here’s the key — don’t be double-minded.
Don’t say you trust God but live unstable in your decisions.
Be:
Quick to hear
Slow to speak
Slow to anger
Anger doesn’t produce God’s righteousness. A humble heart does.
Removing the Bad Isn’t Enough
Here’s something serious.
When you remove wrong habits, wrong thinking, wrong influences — you must replace it with something good.
If you don’t fill the space with God’s Word, wisdom, and obedience… the old patterns try to come back stronger.
You can’t just empty the shelf.
You have to restock it.
Truth.
Discipline.
Obedience.
Prayer.
Wise counsel.
Don’t Just Hear It — Do It
James 1:22 says don’t just be a listener of the Word. Be a doer.
It’s easy to hear a sermon.
It’s easy to post a scripture.
It’s easy to say “Amen.”
But the real question is:
Is it changing how you live?
So… What’s On Your Shelf?
What are you storing in your heart?
Bitterness or forgiveness?
Pride or humility?
Noise or discernment?
Emotion or obedience?
God’s Word has no expiration date.
It doesn’t spoil.
It doesn’t lose power.
But we have to receive it with humility and apply it with consistency.
So today — check your shelf.
Not your physical one.
Your spiritual one.
And make sure what you’re storing is strong enough to sustain you. 💛

02/08/2026

Brother Norvie Cottingham Jr ✝️ 💙

"Is Love On your shelf"

When we think about expiration dates, we usually think about food — things that go bad if they sit too long. But love isn’t like that. Real love doesn’t expire. God’s love has no end date.
The Bible tells us plainly: God is love.
John 3:16 reminds us just how deep that love goes — that God loved the world so much He gave His only Son, so that anyone who believes in Him would have everlasting life. That kind of love isn’t temporary. It’s eternal.
Jesus didn’t just talk about love — He showed us how to live it. In John 13:34, He tells us to love one another the same way He loves us. That’s a big calling. His love led Him all the way to the cross. His love was sacrificial, patient, forgiving, and full of grace.
Sometimes we sing, “Jesus loves me, this I know,” and it sounds simple — but it’s one of the deepest truths we can hold onto. Hebrews 13:8 reminds us that Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever. His love doesn’t change with time or circumstances.
When we read 1 Corinthians 13:4–8 and replace the word love with Jesus, it comes alive in a new way: Jesus is patient. Jesus is kind. Jesus is not jealous or proud. Jesus keeps no record of wrongs. Jesus rejoices in truth. Jesus bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Jesus never fails.
That’s the love we’re invited to grow into.
Love also shows up in how we handle offense. Proverbs 17:9 reminds us that choosing forgiveness protects relationships, while repeating hurtful things can separate even close friends. Love covers — it doesn’t expose just to win or be right.
And as believers, the Church is called the bride of Christ. Just as a bride takes on her husband’s name, we carry His name and should reflect His character — especially His love.
1 Peter 4:8 says that above all, we should have deep, unfailing love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins. Love looks past faults and seeks the good in others.
So maybe the real question is this:
What’s on your shelf today?
Is there forgiveness there? Patience? Kindness? Grace?
Because love never expires — and when we live from God’s love, it never runs out.

Have faith in and give the benefit of the doubt..... Love believes all things will work together for the good... leave suspicion behind it only leads to pain.

02/01/2026

Brother Norvie Cottingham Jr ✝️

What’s On Your Shelf?

Every food item has an expiration date. It tells us how long something is safe to consume before it becomes harmful or ineffective.
The same concept applies in a spiritual sense.
The spiritual realm also has an “act by” date.
Some thoughts, attitudes, and behaviors were never meant to stay on our shelf long-term. When left unchecked, they spoil the heart.
But God’s Word is different.
God’s Word has an eternal shelf life. His Word is forever and will never return void. It does not expire, lose power, or become outdated. Because of this, we must have God’s Word ingrained so deeply in our hearts that our thoughts and responses reflect His thoughts and His ways.
There is a warranty on His Word—and it is eternal goodness.
That is why we should continually evaluate what’s on our shelf.
Is forgiveness on your shelf?
Peter asked Jesus how many times he should forgive someone who sins against him—up to seven times? Jesus responded, not seven times, but seventy times seven (Matthew 18:21–22 AMPC). Forgiveness is not meant to be rationed or measured; it is meant to be practiced continually.
Scripture reminds us that a brother offended is harder to win than a strong city, and divisions become like bars of a castle (Proverbs 18:19 AMPC). Offense builds walls, but love tears them down. Hatred stirs up contentions, but love covers all transgressions (Proverbs 10:12 AMPC).
Hatred makes you love less than you should.
Through Christ, we are called to live differently. I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me (Galatians 2:20). Because Christ lives in us, forgiveness is not optional—it is evidence of His life at work within us.
Paul urges us to present our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, and to be transformed by the renewal of our minds (Romans 12:1–2 AMPC). Forgiveness is part of that living sacrifice. It is a daily decision to let God’s Word rule our lives instead of our emotions.
God is omniscient—He knows everything. He is merciful toward us, and we are called to extend that same mercy to one another. Love is an act of free will. It is a choice. We must decide in our hearts that God’s Word governs our actions.
Jesus teaches that reconciliation matters. Come to terms quickly with your accuser (Matthew 5:25 AMPC). He also reminds us that the altar makes the gift sacred (Matthew 23:19 AMPC). Jesus Himself is the altar.
This is why we must make things right with others before bringing our gift to God. Forgiveness is required—not only toward others, but toward ourselves as well.
So again, the question remains:
What’s on your shelf?
Is it love—or offense?
Mercy—or resentment?
God’s Word—or expired emotions?
Because what you store determines what you serve.

01/11/2026

Brother Norvie Cottingham Jr ✝️

Acts 17:11
Man has only a few days to live......

Job 1:21
Job 14:1-2 ASV
Man, that is born of a woman, Is of few days, and full of trouble. [2] He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: He fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not...
Whatever God gives us we dont own it we just stewards of what we have.
Fate of the world is dependent on the faith of the disciple.
Hebrews 10:5
Luke6:40 , 14:16 '10:16
John 15:20,7:18 13:20
Matthew 10:40
Paul says I know who I have hope in it
Life ubundantly..

Address

3333 28th Street SE
Grand Rapids, MI
49503

Opening Hours

Wednesday 7pm - 8:15pm
Sunday 9am - 12:30pm
6pm - 7pm

Telephone

+16162411797

Website

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