The Church of Christ at Houston Park

The Church of Christ at Houston Park Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from The Church of Christ at Houston Park, Church of Christ, 2 Crescent Hill Drive, Selma, AL.

Hear and believe the gospel of Jesus Christ, repent of your sins, confess your faith in Christ, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins (Mark 16:15, 16; Romans 10:9, 10, 17; Acts 2:38; 1 Peter 3:21).

We are looking for some rule-breakers!The bottom of our VBS flyer says "All Ages - 0-99." This is one area where we are ...
07/22/2026

We are looking for some rule-breakers!

The bottom of our VBS flyer says "All Ages - 0-99." This is one area where we are okay with breaking the rules. You are hereby challenged to bring someone outside of our age limit for VBS.

While you are doing that, invite your friends, family, doctors (We sure have a lot of those!), teacher, butcher, and baker.

Bonus points for a candlestick maker!

Let's make this VBS great!

Van

P.S. If you don't already have a butcher and a baker as friends, you should work on that.

How many nature documentaries would you have to watch to come across a scene where the predator is hunched in the weeds,...
07/15/2026

How many nature documentaries would you have to watch to come across a scene where the predator is hunched in the weeds, stalking its prey, and pounces when it manages to separate a straggler from the group? It is a common commotion, and the victim is often lagging behind because of some challenge due to its health. Since it is found outside of the safety of its family system, it becomes a meal for the opportunistic hunter.

The Scriptures picture Satan as a predator. “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Pet 5:8). The church is the flock that is meant to provide part of the protection for each member. We are meant to bear each other’s burdens, motivate each other to do good things, forgive each other, and love each other, so that Satan will not take advantage of us (Gal 6:1-2; Heb 10:24; 2 Cor 2:6-11). Each congregation should be overseen by pastors, or shepherds, who are qualified to do such, according to 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1. They are meant to watch out for the well-being of the souls of those in their local flock (Acts 20:28; Heb 13:17).

The Shepherd of the flock, Jesus, will ensure that we are not stolen or killed. No one can take us from Him, but we must go in and out according to His words, not those of strangers. We also must not wander ourselves, or we can be lost (John 10). If we were to stray, Jesus wants us back, and He will celebrate our return (Luke 15). With such great encouragement and protection in place, how does Satan pick off precious souls from the church? He gets them to separate themselves and takes advantage of their vulnerability apart from their family and their Shepherd.

Affirming this principle, the Proverbs writer warned that “A man who isolates himself seeks his own desire; he rages against all wise judgment” (Prov 18:1). Perhaps you are having some struggles that leave you unmotivated to be around others. Maybe you don’t feel up to getting yourself ready in the morning, or you don’t feel worthy of the care of God and the church. In such times, rather than isolating yourself, you should contact someone founded in the truth, tell them your struggles, ask for encouragement, and find it in the ways God designed.

Do not forsake assembling with the Lord’s people (Heb 10:25). Seek and submit to accountability to God through humble submission to caring leaders (Heb 13:17). Go to God with the cares you have, cast them off your shoulders and onto His grace (1 Pet 5:5-7).

You can’t handle your problems by separating yourself from God and His people. On the contrary, draw near to the Lord, and He will draw near to you. When you resist the devil, through God’s authority and power, he will flee from you (Jas 4:7-8). Learn about God’s plan for you by studying His Word. Become part of His church. Worship and serve Him. You don’t have to be caught alone.

Van

https://breadcrumbs.vansprague.com/2026/07/15/isolated/

Everyone has to learn to deal with anger.Join us at our Vacation Bible School, where we are learning to handle anger in ...
07/13/2026

Everyone has to learn to deal with anger.

Join us at our Vacation Bible School, where we are learning to handle anger in a way that glorifies God.

We will have classes for all ages, including teens and adults.

Come, and invite friends!

Van

Why the Cross?Death on the Cross is one of the most atrocious ways one might die (Gal 3:13). Yet, the Father of all put ...
06/18/2026

Why the Cross?

Death on the Cross is one of the most atrocious ways one might die (Gal 3:13). Yet, the Father of all put His Son there to breathe His last (Luke 23:46). What is more, Jesus was willing to go (Phil 2:8). Why did God plan for this to happen (Acts 2:23; 1 Pet 1:20)? Why did He let it happen (John 19:11)? The Creator was even pleased with this crucifixion (Isa 53:10). How? Answering these questions will move us to a greater devotion to God and better prepare us to teach others about the death of the Son.

How do you answer the question, “Why did Jesus die on the cross?” Any number of responses could be biblical; however, most can come across superficial and leave one asking, “Yes, but why?” Maybe you say, “Because He loves us.” A multitude of verses support that fact (John 3:16; 15:13; Rom 5:8). Another common and true answer is “For our sins” (1 Tim 1:15; Isa 53:5; Heb 9:22-28). What is incomplete about these?

God’s reason for His Son’s sacrifice is not simple enough that any one thing, alone, can explain it. The answers lie more in the mixture of the examples above – God’s love and man’s sin. If the crucifixion were only a demonstration of love, we are left wondering why God was not satisfied showing us love in a number of other ways. If all we knew was that Jesus died for our sins, we would understandably question why there was no other way God could have dealt with them. So, we find that God’s reasoning for the cross relates to a combination of His character and our sin.

God is holy (Isa 6:3; 1 John 1:5). He is set apart from and superior to all (Eph 4:6; 1 Tim 6:13-16). God’s holiness results from the combination of all His attributes. One can see the relationship between holiness, righteousness, goodness, mercy, justice, grace, and more, as he combs the Scriptures.

Man was created with the capacity to have all these virtues (Gen 1:26, 27), but given the opportunity to spurn them. Being drawn away by what was in the world (1 John 2:16), Adam and Eve sinned (Gen 3:6, 7). Sin is lawlessness (1 John 3:4). God did not simply make the law, or standard. He IS the ultimate standard.

Sin can be described as “missing the mark.” All of mankind has the opportunity to grow in the likeness of God, but when tempted, “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom 3:23). This is where God’s character and man’s sin collide. God CANNOT tolerate sin. It separates us from Him (Isa 59:1, 2; Hab 1:12, 13; 1 John 1:5, 6).

When Adam hid from God after he sinned, it illustrated what sin will always do to God’s relationship with a person (Gen 3:9, 10). This was representative of an infinitely darker, spiritual reality – eternal separation from God and destruction in hell (Rom 6:23; Matt 25:46; 2 Thess 1:6-10).

Adam had broken a union between God and himself. As a result, death entered the world (Rom 5:12-14). There is nothing man, alone, can do to bridge the gap left between us and the Most High God (Prov 20:9). That is why God initiated the plan He had before time, to bring His Son into the world by the Seed of woman (Gen 3:15; 12:1-3; Gal 3:15-25). Jesus came to die on our behalf. It was the only way anyone could reclaim the relationship with God that is severed by sin.

Jesus’ death is also a call to act similarly (Matt 16:24). Those who made it a point to know the purpose and significance of the Savior’s gift (1 Cor 2:2) were moved to make drastic life changes (Acts 22:3-21). Their conversions profoundly affected the world around them (1 Thess 1:6-10). Many would suffer and die but rejoice “that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name” (Acts 5:41). Endeavoring to grasp this full concept will shape every facet of our lives.

https://breadcrumbs.vansprague.com/2026/06/18/why-the-cross/

A Shared Prayer"I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine making request for you all ...
06/17/2026

A Shared Prayer

"I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ; just as it is right for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart, inasmuch as both in my chains and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers with me of grace. For God is my witness, how greatly I long for you all with the affection of Jesus Christ.
And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God."
- Philippians 1:3-11 (Unless otherwise stated: Scripture is taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Used by permission. All rights reserved.)

With love,

Van, and borrowed from Paul
https://breadcrumbs.vansprague.com/2026/06/17/a-shared-prayer/

Is There a Difference Between Your Thoughts and Your Intentions?According to Hebrews 4:12, there is.“For the Word of God...
06/16/2026

Is There a Difference Between Your Thoughts and Your Intentions?

According to Hebrews 4:12, there is.

“For the Word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” (Unless otherwise stated: Scripture is taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Used by permission. All rights reserved.)

How can we tell the difference between what we are thinking and our intention behind what we think?

Let’s illustrate this idea with actions first. We can do the right thing for the wrong reason (Prov 26:24-26). A man may help a woman pick up something she dropped to manipulate her. A theologian may study the Bible to gloat about his knowledge. A loved one may give a family member a gift out of guilt for an old misdeed.

While the onlooker may never see past the action to see the motivation, the action is still wrong because the intent was wrong. It was used to manipulate, boost ego, or hide mistakes. If I examine why I’m doing something and discover that my motives are improper, I need to address that.

Similarly, thoughts are actions of the mind. When they surface, we shouldn’t just act on them but see what they are about. When they come, what do we do about them? As elaborate as our minds are, we may not know where the thoughts came from. While we should control what influences our thinking the best we can, the origin of our thoughts can be beside the point. When they do come, we should examine whether they are good or bad. If a thought is bad, try to dismiss it [*See note on intrusive thoughts]. How do we recognize if the intentions behind what we are thinking are pure?

The text gives us the answer. “The Word of God” can discern the validity of our motives. The words written by the holy apostles and prophets are what we use to bring “every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ” (2 Cor 10:5). They are the measure by which we know if something is worth meditating on (Philip 4:8). God’s revealed will is complete. Continuing in it is the only way we may see ourselves clearly and become more like Him (1 Cor 13:12; 2 Cor 3:18).

What do you think?

Van

*Note on intrusive thoughts: Intrusive thoughts are those that are often disturbing and wildly out of character. They come unbidden and, likely, without an identifiable source of provocation. In the event of intrusive thoughts, attempting to forget them may be difficult or unhelpful. So, reasoning through them and meditating on the truth of who you are and why the thought is not rationally related to your life can help you process its absurdity and put it to rest, rather than just trying to shove it away.

https://breadcrumbs.vansprague.com/2026/06/16/is-there-a-difference-between-your-thoughts-and-your-intentions/

When Jesus was asked to perform more signs to appease the scribes and Pharisees, He told them: “An evil and adulterous g...
06/15/2026

When Jesus was asked to perform more signs to appease the scribes and Pharisees, He told them:

“An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. The men of Nineveh will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and indeed a greater than Jonah is here.”
(Matt 12:39-41, Unless otherwise stated: Scripture is taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Used by permission. All rights reserved)
How is Jesus greater than Jonah?

He has a greater message.
Jonah 3:4 records that the prophet cried out, “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!”

Jesus preached the gospel of the kingdom of God, saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel” (Mark 1:14-15).

He is a more compassionate messenger.

When Nineveh repented in response to Jonah’s preaching, God spared them.

Jonah 4:1-3 records how Jonah felt about that.

“But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he became angry. So he prayed to the Lord, and said, ‘Ah, Lord, was not this what I said when I was still in my country? Therefore I fled previously to Tarshish; for I know that You are a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, One who relents from doing harm. Therefore now, O Lord, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live!’”

When Jesus looked over the city of people who would reject and crucify Him, He “wept over it, saying, ‘If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes’” (Luke 19:41-42).

Even when He was on the cross, Jesus expressed concern for others, saying, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do” (Luke 23:34).

He gave a more impressive sign.

Jonah was preserved from death by being swallowed by a big fish and was spat out three days later (Jonah 1:17; 2:10).

Jesus died (Luke 23:46).
He was enclosed in a tomb for three days (Luke 23:50-24:1).
He was resurrected from the dead (Acts 2:22-24).
He was seen by many witnesses (1 Cor 15:1-8).
He ascended into heaven to sit at the right hand of the Father (Acts 1:9; Heb 1:3).

"And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness:
God was manifested in the flesh,
Justified in the Spirit,
Seen by angels,
Preached among the Gentiles,
Believed on in the world,
Received up in glory."
(1 Tim 3:16)

Truly, Jesus is the greatest preacher. Have you been obedient to His message?

Van
https://breadcrumbs.vansprague.com/2026/06/15/greater-than-jonah/

In a world where we value self-expression over introspection, we often speak of what we think more than we think of what...
06/10/2026

In a world where we value self-expression over introspection, we often speak of what we think more than we think of what we speak.

Van

(Unless otherwise stated: Scripture is taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Used by permission. All rights reserved).
https://breadcrumbs.vansprague.com/2026/06/10/before-you-say-it/

“Simon Peter answered and said, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Blessed ...
06/09/2026

“Simon Peter answered and said, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.

Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it’” (Matt 16:16-18).

“On this rock” was Jesus’ reference to His followers’ foundation. What is it? The fact that He is the Christ, the Son of God. He will establish, empower, and preserve those who build upon this fact. A church with any other foundation cannot be the one about which Jesus instructed Peter (1 Cor 3:11).

He called the church He would build, “My church.” It belongs to Him. The purchase price was the blood He shed in humiliation, agony, and love (Acts 20:28; Heb 12:1-2; John 3:16). His blood was offered by God and drawn by the hands of sinful men (John 19:11; Acts 2:23). Any who are washed by it, in the watery grave of baptism, are added to the body, the blood-bought church (Acts 22:16; 1 Cor 6:9-11; Rev 1:4-5; Acts 2:36-47).

Since it is His, He runs it. He is the head of the body, the church (Eph 1:22-23). That means He is the leader. Just as one head does not have more than one body, a body does not have more than one head. We submit to the leadership of Christ by obeying His Word. If someone says they are part of His church, but do not obey Him, they lie (1 John 2:3-4).

Finally, Jesus said, “the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.” Death would not defeat Him at the cross, and it will not overcome His people. Jesus will destroy death when He comes to bring His church, His bride, to be with Him in heaven forever (1 Cor 15:24-26; Eph 5:25-27).

“Does it matter what church you go to?” is a common question. Jesus died for one, started one, rules one, and will come back for one. If it mattered that much to Him, shouldn’t it matter to us?

Are you part of His church?

Van

https://breadcrumbs.vansprague.com/2026/06/09/his-church-are-you-part-of-it/

Do You Know This Person?There is a terribly hard-to-please member of the church. Have you heard of them? They are divisi...
06/08/2026

Do You Know This Person?

There is a terribly hard-to-please member of the church. Have you heard of them? They are divisive and have a negative opinion about anything that isn’t exactly what they want. They don’t have a biblical reason why things should be their way and won’t do anything to help, but they won’t hesitate to let others know what they are thinking.

Their name happens to be the same in every congregation. What is their name?

Everybody.

Do you know them?

“Everybody says…” “Everybody thinks…” “Everybody wants…”

It’s an age-old tactic.

Consider when Daniel’s enemies wanted to see him ousted from his position of influence in Darius’ kingdom. After they concocted the plan, they came before the king with the appeal, “All the governors of the kingdom, the administrators and satraps, the counselors and advisors, have consulted together…” (Dan 6:7, Unless otherwise stated: Scripture is taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Used by permission. All rights reserved). A unanimous agreement would certainly be convincing for a king, but there was a big problem. It wasn’t true. How do we know? Daniel was the chief governor (vv 2-3). He did not elect to make a proclamation against his own prayers to God.

Why did they do it? Because it was effective. The king, persuaded by “everybody,” made a law that was designed to bring suffering to one of his most faithful servants.

The “everybody says” tactic might work in politics, but it has no place in the church.

At best, saying “everybody says” is an exaggeration. Usually, it is a lie designed to artificially inflate influence. Using it avoids accountability and assertive communication. When this happens, some of God’s most faithful servants often end up suffering because they will patiently endure the fallout. After all, they don’t want to hurt the church. The perpetrators, on the other hand, often get their way. As a result, churches can end up being run by spiritually stunted, passive-aggressive, and manipulative brethren.

What can we do so that everyone else doesn’t suffer from “Everybody’s” influence? Leaders must be examples by communicating kindly, clearly, and directly, and encouraging others to do likewise. If someone comes speaking for “Everybody,” or another malcontent, like “Someone” or “Others,” we must remind them of Matthew 18:15 and advise them to direct the party they are representing to the brother, sister, or brethren who need to be addressed.

Oddly, it is often the case that “Everybody” is difficult to find when transparency is called for. “Someone” who said we should do something is unwilling to do anything, and “Others” who always find problems never give solutions.

Instead of getting all of these fake people involved, take care of things that you should yourself. Do you have a grievance? That is okay. Ask yourself, “Is it a matter of opinion or Scripture?” If it’s your opinion, you’ll need to decide if it is helpful to share. Provided that it is, take ownership of it, discuss it forthrightly, and follow up. If it is an issue of right or wrong, go to the person directly involved and speak with them in love. Keep unity, reconciliation, and progress in mind.

Let’s put “Everybody” out of power in the church and accept Jesus as the head.

Van
https://breadcrumbs.vansprague.com/2026/06/08/do-you-know-this-person/

Address

2 Crescent Hill Drive
Selma, AL
36701

Opening Hours

Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
6pm - 7pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 5pm
Sunday 9am - 11am
6pm - 7pm

Telephone

+13348747941

Website

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