Church of Christ of Newark, New York

07/15/2024

ARE YOU A W**D OR A “SON” FLOWER?
For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.
1 Cor 3:9 (KJV)

The letter of 1 Corinthians was written to a Church of Christ that was in trouble. They were in danger of losing their soul salvation. They were suffering from stunted growth. Strife, envying and divisions had entered the Church. Paul tells them they were not able to bear teaching that would strengthen them. They were too weak. It is interesting that they were able to bear envying, strife and divisions during the week but were not able to bare getting up and going to Bible school on Sunday morning. They had the strength for worldly things but no strength for the Spiritual. Paul was writing to strengthen and build up the Church.

As we consider our scripture reference for this lesson Paul defines who he is. He is a laborer with God. A laborer was one who was willing to do the work. Paul was not there to tear down but he was there to build up the Church. Paul was there to do what Jesus prayed for. Listen!! “Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.” Matt 9:37-38 (KJV) Paul was there to work with God. He was there to build the right way. The foundation was already laid. That foundation was Christ. After Paul defines who he was, he defines who the Corinthians were. They belonged to God. He uses two comparisons to bring the message home. First, they are God’s husbandry. They were God’s garden or God’s vineyard. They were expected to bear fruit. Secondly, the were God’s building. Paul was a wise master builder and the Corinthians were what was built. Peter puts it this way. Listen!! “Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 2:5 (KJV) Once they found out who they were they were expected to do better. They were to grow as a spiritual garden and they were to be built up into a spiritual house. No less is expected of us today. Be kind to each other. Till next time---
Bro Hartfiel

04/24/2024

WISDOM IS NOT FOR EVERYONE
Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning. Prov 9:9 (KJV)

As we begin this division of Proverbs chapter 9, we find Wisdom hard at work. Her work never ceases. She is busy doing the things necessary to establish her place. Her place is a place of wonder. Her place is hewed out. The word hewn can mean to carve out. Generally, it means to carve out of stone. This would be a very time consuming, but a house carved out of stone would last for ages. Her house would be like the wise man who built his house upon the rock. Listen!! “Therefore, whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.” Matt 7:24-25 (KJV) She has also prepared a meal. She has meat and she has wine. She has prepared enough for those she would call. She has not prepared a meal for everyone. She has invited only those who want to increase in wisdom. She invites those who want to learn. Some are not invited. The foolish man would not appreciate her preparation. The root word for simple and foolish is the same. They are in the same state. The difference must be in the desire to change. The simple is invited. The simple has a chance to become someone else. He can be reproved and will change. The word reprove can mean to reason or plead with a person. The simple will listen while the foolish and the scorner will not.
As we consider our scripture reference for this lesson, we find that there is always a need for teaching. Wisdom has something to say even to the wise man. Wisdom has something to say even to the just man. The wise man will become wiser and the just man will also increase in learning. In their attitude is the understanding that they do not know everything. The text will show that there is a direction that Wisdom will point the wise man towards. There is a way that the just man can be more just. Listen!! “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.” Prov 9:10 (KJV) One more scripture and the lesson is yours. ) “As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear. As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger to them that send him: for he refresheth the soul of his masters.” Prov 25:12-13 (KJV Be kind to each other. Till next time--- Bro Dean Hartfiel

03/25/2024

THE CHOCOLATE CROSS
“And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.”
Matt 10:38 (KJV)
In Matthew chapter 10, Jesus is preparing His apostles for some of the facts of life concerning the Gospel. They needed to be prepared for what others might think of their message. Certainly, their message came from a loving God and should be received by man as a loving gift. To those who would love the Lord, the Gospel is a message of hope. To those who love the world, and the things of the world, the Gospel would not be received. The message of hope would be despised. The Apostles needed to be prepared for those who would have the attitude of rejection. They would need to be prepared for persecutions. All would not hear. The message of the Gospel can be a hope, but at the same time it can be a cross to be borne. It can be suffering to be endured. Paul realized this when he penned these words. “But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.” Gal 6:14 (KJV)

As we consider our scripture reference for this lesson, we want to think about the cross. The cross under discussion is not the cross of Christ. Christ has already taken up His cross literally; and in fact, was nailed to it and died for us. The cross under consideration is my cross and your cross. Crosses come in many different sizes and can be made in many different materials. The world often wears the cross around the neck on a chain or as a pin on the lapel. This is not what Jesus had reference to. Recently I observed a chocolate cross. They also come in various sizes. The cross I observed measured 4 inches by 3 inches. It was filled with marshmallow. Often the chocolate cross is the only cross men will pick up. The cross around the neck and the chocolate cross are picked up for the wrong reason. They are worn and consumed for the gratification of man. The cross Jesus has reference to is a cross of self-denial. It is an unselfish cross and unlike the chocolate cross it is an enduring cross. The cross of self-denial will endure to the end of our lives. The cross Jesus is referring to is a loving cross. We must be willing to love and follow Jesus to the end of our walk here upon this earth. Paul realized the cross Jesus had reference to when he wrote these words. Listen!! “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless, I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” Gal 2:20 (KJV) Till next time!!
DEAN HARTFIEL

03/08/2024

FORGET NOT
Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not high-minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; 1 Tim 6:17 (KJV)

The letters to Timothy were written to encourage him in his responsibility to teach the Church. Chapter 6 is directed to both servants and those who were masters. Today the instructions would be to the employee and the boss. The key to our responsibility is to remember that our conduct does not only reflect back on us but reflects back to God. Not only does it reflect on God it also reflects on the doctrine. To blaspheme means to speak evil of. The Christian needs to remember that everywhere he goes he is a walking letter just as much as Timothy is a written letter. What we believe will be reflected in our lives each day. Each day we should be grateful for the day and ask God’s blessing on our day. Maybe this should be our prayer. Listen to a prayer of Abraham’s servant. “And he said, O LORD God of my master Abraham, I pray thee, send me good speed this day, and shew kindness unto my master Abraham.” Gen 24:12 (KJV)
As we consider our scripture reference for this letter Paul starts with a charge. The word charge means to command. This again is a command to the Church. Paul could not command the world in this subject because uncertain riches are all that they have until they obey the Gospel. The Church knows better because they have experienced the riches of Christ. Listen!! “For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.” 2 Cor 8:9 (KJV) Yes, they knew what they had and what Christ gave up for them and us. Our trust must be in the one who saved us. Paul warns them not to be high minded or not to be arrogant. If we are high minded we forget who we really are if we take away our salvation. We forget what our future was without the grace of God. We depend on our own abilities and forget where our strength comes from. We look at our possessions like they belong to us alone and we can do with them what we want without acknowledging God’s help. If we are high minded we worship ourselves and our things. If we are high minded we will fall low. Timothy was to remind the Church of the living God. God is not dead but alive. His love for us is ongoing and He continues to give richly. This word richly is important. God does not only give, He gives abundantly. God’s purpose in giving is that we might enjoy. He gives that we might have excess enjoyment. If we can’t enjoy what God has given us then we probably have no joy in our Christian life. One more scripture and the lesson is yours. “He that trusteth in his riches shall fall: but the righteous shall flourish as a branch.” Prov 11:28 (KJV) Be kind to each other. Till next time--- Bro Dean Hartfiel

02/24/2024

AMEN ANYWAY!!!
And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Eph 4:30 (KJV)

The letter to the Ephesians was written by the Apostle Paul while he was in prison. His purpose for the letter was to encourage the Greek Christians in the Gospel. Paul uses most of the first three chapters telling them about the blessings they had in Christ. They had all the blessings that were available to the Jews. God had them in mind even before the foundation of the worlds. Christ came and was responsible for tearing down the wall of partition that existed between the two peoples. Paul prays for the Ephesians that they would be strengthened in the inner man. He realized that they could not grasp or appreciate what God had done for them on their own. Listen to part of his prayer!! “That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.” Eph 3:16-19 (KJV) This is a prayer that should be one each heart prays. In Ephesians chapter 4 deals with how the Christian should live. After the discussion of their blessings there should be a question asked. The question is what does God require of us? Just how does a person so blessed by God live? Listen!! “I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;” Eph 4:1-2 (KJV) This life is so important that Paul prayed for them and also begged them to live such a life.
As we consider our scripture reference for this lesson we find out why Paul stresses the life we live. It is possible to grieve the Spirit of God. The word grieve means to make sorrowful. The word grieve is not new to the New Testament. Israel grieved God. Let’s look at how they did it. Listen!! “ Forty years long was I grieved with this generation, and said, It is a people that do err in their heart, and they have not known my ways:” Psalms 95:10 (KJV) They did it by not giving attention to the things of God.. They did not walk worthy of the vocation that they were called to. They forgot their salvation from Egypt. They forgot their spiritual and physical blessings. They forgot His way and went their own way. They lost their inheritance. It is possible for us today to lose our inheritance. Once saved always saved is not a doctrine of the Scriptures. The Apostles never mentioned it nor did they teach it. It is not a doctrine I want to hang my salvation on. Amen anyway!!!! Be kind to each other. Till next time---------Bro Dean Hartfiel

11/06/2023

WHAT WE CAN BECOME
Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 2 Cor 5:17 (KJV)

2 Corinthians chapter 5 begins with some assurances. There are better things to come. The Christian should look forward to a better time and even a better body. God has made provisions for the faithful. What God has prepared for us is better than what we have, regardless of how good we think it is now. Job understood this and so should we. Listen to his words. “For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God:” Job 19:25-26 (KJV)
What God has prepared for us should help us understand what we now have in Christ. In order to be able to stand right in the latter day we must stand right in this life. Job did this and we can too. As we come up from the waters of baptism, we are new creatures. It is through the waters of baptism that we come in contact with the blood of Christ and we become new. It is through the obedience of the Gospel that old things have passed away. We do not need to wait until the end of time to be a new creature. David prayed to God for such a blessing. Listen to his words. “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.” Psalms 51:10-12 (KJV) Only God is able to make all things new. Only God is able to restore a man to the joy of salvation. Only God is able to uphold a man with His Spirit. How does it feel to be made new? There will be a desire to please God for what He has done for us. There will be a joy in our heart just like David looked forward to. As we close this lesson, we must speak of the purpose God has for those that have been made new. Listen to these words “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” Eph 2:10 (KJV) If we are His workmanship there should be no doubt to those who observe us as to Whom we belong. One more scripture and the lesson is yours. “Therefore, we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:” Romans 6:4-5 (KJV) Be kind to each other. Till next time-----Brother Dean Hartfiel

10/28/2023

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Religious organisation

09/23/2023

Listen Church!!!!
Bible Study is necessary for salvation.
Lord’s Day Bible study at 1:00pm
We will continue our study of Hebrews
Lord willing.
Hebrews 11:23 (MSG)
23 By an act of faith, Moses' parents hid him away for three months after his birth. They saw the child's beauty, and they braved the king's decree.

We will be meeting at the building for Bible Study as well as Facebook
Worship at 2:00pm
We have a new Church page check it out.
I will meet you at the front door

09/13/2023

Listen Church!!!!
Bible Study is necessary for salvation.
Join us for another Home Bible study
On the Newark Church of Christ New page
Tonight at 6:00 pm WEDNESDAY Sept 13
Pearls of Wisdom
Proverbs 25
Proverbs 25:2 (KJV)
2 It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.