Monthly Archives: February 2009

House to House: Building Our Faith

February 28, 2009
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Faith is one of those words that can be tough to pin down. Some folks say it means a blind leap in the dark. Others say it is exclusively evidence-based. Which is it?

I think the answer is both. Real faith is not kept in contradiction to reason, but it extends beyond reason. Faith begins in evidence and moves out from it-even when believing is difficult. The word used in the New Testament for faith is pistis, a word which is also translated as trust. It’s not merely mental agreement: “Yeah, I think that’s right.” It is belief that produces trust that produces action.

Have you heard these scriptures lately?

  •          “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1 ESV)
  •          “And without faith it is impossible to please God.” (Hebrews 11:6 ESV)
  •          “…the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.” (James 1:3 ESV)
  •          “Faith, by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” (James 1:17 ESV)

Perhaps the most piercing scripture off all is the question that Jesus asked nearly two thousand years ago: “When the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on earth?” (Luke 18:8 ESV)

If Jesus asked that question of you alone, what would the answer be?

Faith is absolutely essential for God’s people. It’s not optional! It must be the kind of faith that trusts and obeys even in moments of doubt.

The church at Burns wants to help make sure that the answer to Jesus’ question is a resounding YES! To that effect, we’ve planned several things we’d like to let you know about. These are all designed to help us all build our faith.

We’ll soon be offering The Case for Christ series, by Lee Strobel. Visit with us at 6 pm on Sunday nights in the months of March, April, and May to see a video series by an atheist-turned-believer who explored the evidence about Christianity. After the videos are over, we’ve invited some experts to come share even more evidence that they’ve seen in their work. There will be time for discussion and questions. Don’t worry; this material, although it is deep, is very accessible.

You’ll see a lot of us in the month of June, too! We’re planning to come door-to-door in the third week of June to see if there’s any way we can help you on your spiritual journey. We’ll be offering Bible studies and good, Bible-based materials for your consideration.

We hope that you will join us whenever you can, and it is our prayer that when Christ returns, He will find faith in you! Please let us know if we can help. You may contact our office at 441-3984 or by email at office@burnschurchofchrist.org. Check our website for more specific information: http://www.burnschurchofchrist.org

Changing the World When the Sky is Falling

February 27, 2009
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You are the salt of the earth. You are the light of the world. Matthew 5:13, 14

As I drive by the Discovery School, where four of my grandchildren go, I always pray for each of them as they spend their day in learning and interaction.  My prayer is simple.  “Father, will you bless each child in the school?  Will you make this day a good day for my four grandchildren? Will you help them to be safe, have a love for learning and make their school a better place because they are there?”

It is easy to buy into the diabolical lie that the world is coming to no good and Christians must hide their lights in little cubby holes and talk about how bad the people in the  world are.  “Look what the world is coming to?  Our country and all other countries are going to the Devil and we can’t do anything so let’s hide our salt and light so we won’t become contaminated. “‘The Sky is falling’ and we can’t do anything about it.”

The first century church met a world as bad as any that’s has ever existed. (Read again the Book of Revelation.)  They went everywhere saying “Look what has come to the world.”  They believed that God was in charge of our world and that we need to infect the world with the virus of Christian teaching. (Per Matthew’s class Sunday night,)

Who rubs shoulders with men and women of the world every day?  Who works and plays with men and women of the world every day?  Whose kids interact with boys and girls of the world every day?

Why is our light not shining?  Why is our salt not working?  Why are we backing away from telling the story of a Crucified and risen LORD?  Why sit back and curse the darkness when we have the light?

We have the opportunity to bring light into the lives of men and women, boys and girls of Dickson County. Sunday nights – March- May – The Case for Faith. Be here and bring a car load.

Sunday Sermons: I AM!

February 23, 2009
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I AM Series
 

Several times in the Gospel of John Jesus repeats a simple formula: I AM… By using this simple phrase, Jesus claims the authority of Jehovah God, the Great I AM at the same time as He makes Himself available to you and me. Join us on Sunday mornings in February, March, and April as we look at the “I AM” sayings of Jesus in the book of John.

Our tentative lesson schedule is:

February 15: “I AM – Before Abraham Was I Am” (James Hinkle)

February 22: “I AM the Bread of Life” John 6 (James Hinkle)

March 1: ” I AM the Light of the World” John 8 (Matthew Hiatt)

March 8: “I AM the Good Shepherd”  John 10 (James Hinkle)

March 15: “I AM the Vine”  John 15 (James Hinkle)

March 22: “I AM the Living Water” John 4 (Matthew Hiatt)

March 29: “I AM Going to the Father” John 16 (James Hinkle)

April 5: “I AM the Way, the Truth and the Life”  John 14 (James Hinkle)

April 12: “I AM the Resurrection” John 11 (James Hinkle) (Easter)

April 19: “I AM Lifted up from the Earth” John 12 (James Hinkle)

April 26: “I AM the Alpha and the Omega” Revelation 1:8; 21:6; 22:13 (Matthew Hiatt)

Examine the Evidence

February 23, 2009
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Examine the Evidence
 

Is faith compatible with science? Does God exist–and if He does, why all the suffering? Can we trust the Bible?

Lee Strobel asked these tough questions more than once in his life. As a young professional, the legal editor for the Chicago Tribune, he knew for a fact that religion was a crutch–something made up to help the weak. When his wife became interested in faith, he thought it was going to be more of an annoyance than anything! With his reporter’s notebook in hand, he decided to examine the evidence. The atheist is now a world-renowned apologist helping others step through the same evidence he looked at–in an investigation of a lifetime!

We invite you to join us for a special three-month series on Sunday nights at Burns: Examine the Evidence. We want to look at tough questions like these and see what answers we can find from experts and the word of God. Strobel has produced three video sets, The Case for Faith, The Case for a Creator, and The Case for Christ. These videos are full of great information for anyone!

If you’re a beliver–come, and learn more about your faith. If you’re a seeker–come, and see what it is that means so much to us. If you’re convinced that we’re crazy–come and see for yourself!

We’ll show these interactive videos on Sunday nights at 6pm along with supplementary lecture materials and group discussion. In addition, we’ve planned four special nights of guest speakers. We have sought out experts who know their materials to help us examine the evidence.

We have invited Dr. Steve Cantrell, a surgeon who is involved in cancer research, to present evidence examining the resurrection of Jesus. Dr. Cantrell was recently published in Think magazine on this topic and has served for several years at the Crieve Hall congregation in Nashville.

Dr. Joe Deweese from Walnut Street will make two presentations examining the evidence for God from the perspective of a scientist and biochemist. Dr. Deweese has presented material at Walnut Street and will teach at Lipscomb as well. He is now finishing his work at Vanderbilt.

Our third guest is Dr. Dale Manor from Harding University. Dr. Manor is an archaeologist and professor of Old Testament Studies. He is the field director of Tel Beth-Shemesh excavations in Israel. You may have recently heard him present at the Fairview Church of Christ or at Freed-Hardeman University’s lectureship.

These men will guide our study and answer questions as we work to examine the evidence! Please join us for this investigation of a lifetime!

  • March 1 Faith in a World of Reason?
  • March 8 The Gospels: Eyewitness Testimony
  • March 15 Friends and Foes: Extra-Biblical Testimony
  • March 22 Who Is the Real Jesus?
  • April 5 The Resurrection: It Happened.
  • April 12 A Doctor’s Look at the Resurrection Dr. Steve Cantrell, MD, DDS
  • April 19 Science and God: Incompatible?
  • April 26 A Scientist’s Look at the Universe Dr. Joe Deweese, PhD Biochemistry
  • May 3 A Biochemist’s Look at Intelligent Design Dr. Joe Deweese, PhD Biochemistry
  • May 10 An Archaeologist’s Look at the Bible Dr. Dale Manor, PhD Archaeology 
  • May 17 How Did It All Start?
  • May 24 Design? Intelligent?
  • May 31 Philosophical Evidence for God 

Download a printable flier with schedule of speakers and topics.

Sweethearts’ Banquet 2009

February 21, 2009
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Sweethearts’ Banquet 2009 was a certain success! We had a night of the Doo-Wop Days at the Fellowship Hall, thanks to the hard work of Andy, Stan, and many more. Hamburgers and hot dogs abounded in old’ fashioned diner style, and the food was second to none!

Enjoy a “then and now” slideshow:

Sweethearts Old Days Game
View more presentations from happyhiatt.

Enjoy pictures from our special night

.Couples Collage

my-scans

A Struggle for Faith

February 20, 2009
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So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. Genesis 1:27

Today we are faced with diabolical problems of life and death proportions.  Some in our world have no respect for life.  They bring destruction wherever they walk. It is a sad fact of life that a woman in Afghanistan can walk into a group of men, women and children and pull the fuse and blow up herself and 31 others.  It is a sad fact that a man can open his door to people he knows and end up being beaten with a baseball bat and left for dead.

The dignity of man is being assaulted on every front in this 21st century.  Until we get back to the Bible and its definition of man, we will end up with utter destruction of the fabric of human society.  Humanitarians on this globe assail the inhuman treatment of human beings in remote places in our world.  They get their respect for man from the Bible.  Man is unique because he is created by a unique God.

We celebrate the birth of Darwin’s Origin of the Species not understanding that it was the beginning of the end for the dignity of man.  If our ancestors crawled out of the sea as some slim ball in the eons of the past, where is the dignity of man?  Physical Anthropology defines man in grossly different terms than the verse above.  Defining man from a physical standpoint leaves much to be said. 

The Burns Church of Christ is about to launch a defense of the dignity of man.  March, April and May we will have Sunday nights devoted to evidence of Christ and the world he created.  Plan to be present at 6:00 each Sunday night and bring your children, family and friends.  The videos and lectures will stimulate you mind and challenge the current climate. 

Don’t Burn Out!

February 13, 2009
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If only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me. Acts 20:24

      Surviving in ministry is a tough assignment.  Some say “I had rather wear out than rust out.”  Others suffer burnout and others quit before the race is finished. 

      Completing the race is of great importance to all of us.  To stop before we reach our goal is to miss the very essence of what it is to be created in the image of God.  We are made for better things than to miss the mark and not take advantage of the life and death of Jesus.  To quit before that is reached is to fail miserably.

      Yet, many sit down beside the road and while their time away and miss the opportunity to live forever with God.  What a sad end for those who give up too early or rust out or burn out.

      Paul told young Timothy I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God. Fanning the flame means that we get the fire going.  Fire that is about to go out can sometimes be fanned into flame and add warmth to a person’s life.  We could use a good fanning occasionally.

      Our goal should be the same as that of Paul.  He was forever thinking about the final result of his ministry.  He said I want to do two things: 1) I want to finish my race. 2) I want to complete the task.

      As we number the causalities who have fallen to the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of Satan, may we not be in that number.

Don’t Be a Pharisee

February 6, 2009
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The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. So you must obey them and do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, For they do not practice what they preach. Matthew 23:2, 3

If we are acquainted with the teaching of Jesus we know that he had problems with the Pharisees of his day. Matthew 23 is a good example.

Keep in mind that Phariseeism is a defense mechanism people use to avoid becoming aware of their own faults, failings and depravity. They are afraid to look inside for the things they need to change. It is far easier to look at the faults of others rather than confront the person we see in the mirror.

The sin of the Pharisees was maintaining that they were the only true believers. “We can’t have heaven filled.” They maintain the status quo and that nothing needs changing. “Sinners” are outside the fellowship of God and He doesn’t even hear their prayers. We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly man who does his will. (John 9:31)

We still have the problem in the 21st century. There are many people who know that they are the only ones who are going to make it to heaven. They have their list of requirements and exclude or look down on those who fail to match these requirements. There are political Pharisees, economical Pharisees, educational Pharisees and religious Pharisees.

Maybe we could all learn a lesson from Jesus and look to ourselves. You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. (Matthew 7:5)

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