First Christian Church - Elizabethtown, Ky

“This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine.” We remember these words from the sweet song that is sung by preschoolers in churches everywhere. Simple words that carry with them a deep spiritual truth; our love for Christ should flow through us and into the lives of others as we share the greatest story ever told. As Christians, we are part of a much bigger story. In fact, it’s the biggest story. “Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers.” (Psalm 1:1-3) What an awesome and wonderful responsibility we have as Christians. We get to be the example of Christ each and every day. And since people are watching us most all the time, it is imperative that we honor Him in all we do and say. C

Rick Warren wrote the book “A Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here For?” several years ago. The book was an overnight success. It still sells thousands of copies each year. Why? Because we instinctively know God created each of us to do something. We each possess a unique set of skills, talents, experiences, backgrounds, and a host of other characteristics that make us who we are. That combination makes us unlike anyone else in the world. God made us for a purpose. When we discover that purpose, we find activities, jobs, careers, and volunteer opportunities that fulfill our purpose. No one needs to tell us to do what God made us to do. When we find it, we will want to fulfill our purpose. Peter gives us some important instruction to those of us who are leaders, specifically leaders in the church. In 1 Peter 5:2-3 (NLT), Peter instructs us to “care for the flock that God has entrusted to you….willingly, not grudgingly and not for what you will get out of it” and to “lead them by your own good example.”

Every championship team looks back at the hard work they invested throughout the season with a smile as they carry the trophy off the field. Each of those players understands that the blood, sweat, and tears that were spent on the practice field had a great deal to do with the ultimate outcome of their season. It was the team that saw practicing as a joy that reached its ultimate goal. Folks on the sideline looked on as those players gave of themselves day after day, drill after drill, for hours upon end working on the practice field. And many of the onlookers couldn’t understand how or why those players wanted to be out there practicing for all those long hours. There was another team whose players dreaded practice and who hated the thought of giving maximum effort each day. That team ended up with a miserable season. Giving of our resources for use in God’s kingdom is often viewed by many people as a rough practice in the middle of a hot, sunny day. Each of us has to decide if we view giving as drudgery and

We may not admit it, but we like rules. It all starts when we are children. Don’t cross the street without holding hands, no running in the hallway, stop drop and roll, and the list goes on. Those rules - like them or not - stick with us and when we are young they guide us and keep us safe. As adults we cling to similar, simple rules to guide us. When it comes to money we have a number of those little rules. Never discuss money, my money-my business, a penny saved is a penny earned (OK, we’ll adjust for inflation, a twenty saved is a twenty earned), and on and on. The focus of those rules all seem to be very selfish; they are all about my money, saving for me, taking care of me. Simple rules and guidance can be very helpful, even when it comes to money. Jesus provides us with a very simple rule for dealing with our blessings of money and resources, “Give and it will be given to you.” Along with this rule He provides a good motivation for us to give, “For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

You can’t spend much time around First Christian without hearing three phrases—love God, love people, serve the world. This is the process we follow as we go about our mission of leading people closer to Jesus Christ. Our FREE-SPONSIBILITY series continues this week with the focus on service. We find these words in Acts 6 (NIV): In those days when the number of disciples was increasing… (v.1) The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly… (v.7) Verses 2-6 tell the story of how service changed an increasing church into a rapidly increasing church. Here’s an example of how this concept has worked at First Christian. Exactly four years ago today, Haiti was devastated by an earthquake. The human need was beyond our imagination. One of our members had an idea that we could help by putting a trailer in the parking lot of our N. Mulberry campus. It would be a collection point for people who wanted to donate needed supplies. Another member secured a trailer from a local trucking company. A team of workers or

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20) Jesus instructed his disciples in Galilee to go forward and complete the work He had started. These passages in Matthew are often referred to as “The Great Commission,” and Jesus meant these words for us as well. We have a beautiful new facility with many programs to meet the needs and interests of all ages. We have the space and resources to implement these programs as we strive to reach others for Christ. We have access to many varied studies and lessons to help us teach the Good News about Christ and His salvation. Being settled in our new facility is only the beginning; now our real work begins. We must put others first and seek to save the lost. Living out The Great Commission that Christ gave his disciples so many years ago is what we are

Graduation day is a big deal for most people. It really does not matter what you are graduating from; graduation day is a big deal. Maybe it is high school, or college, or boot camp--you look forward to graduation day. For those who are still waiting for graduation day to come, let me tell you a little secret – it is not a big deal. It is just another day. The better part is coming. The real change has yet to happen. Doors will open, opportunities will come, and that graduation will begin to make a real difference in your life. But on that day you graduate, you can’t see or anticipate the impact. The “bigger deal” of graduation isn’t the ceremony of that one day, it is completing the program. On the day Jesus was born only a few, the shepherds and the Magi, knew the significance of this birth. For most people, it was just another day. The change in everyone’s life had arrived…but they did not know it or see it. How big was the birth that day? In John 11:25-26 Jesus says to Martha, “I am the resurrection and t

If you’ve been a part of First Christian for years, there’s something you know. If you’re a first time guest, there’s something you’ll soon find out. First Christian Church is a happy place. Yes, we’re very serious about our mission of leading people closer to Jesus. And yes, there are plenty of times when we encounter bumps in the road. But in the midst of a serious task and the struggles that go along with it, First Christian is a place filled with laughter, joy, and good humor. An angel announced the birth of Jesus with these words: Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Luke 2:10 NIV Great joy came to the people Jesus healed, those He taught and those He forgave. It’s easy to imagine plenty of laughter, and maybe even some practical jokes, being shared by Jesus and the twelve guys who spent three years following Him. People who followed Jesus must have come to this conclusion--Jesus is happy. With Him as our model, we should be happy, too.

Arrows, an extended arm, a nod of the head, a sign, a compass, a GPS, MapQuest—all are methods of pointing us in some direction. We depend on these methods to find where a person lives or to find our way to an unknown neighborhood or city. We are fortunate that all they require is a correct address and the ability to follow directions. However, in the past, poorly drafted maps hindered people in finding the right destination. In Biblical times people were also hindered, even burdened, by what they had to follow—the law. While the teachers of the law made it difficult to find what someone was searching for—a Savior—the solution was simple. Those who taught the law didn’t use it to point people in the right direction because they either didn’t know or didn’t recognize one important thing—Jesus is the point of the law. Because of that one point, we are twice blessed. Today we aren’t weighed down by the law and are assured in God’s Word that a life with Him will not be a burden. We are reassured of this with Jesu

We do not easily understand the grace of God because it is a principle so opposite to all our thoughts and ways that we misunderstand it. Grace is the full forgiveness of every sin and God doesn’t expect or demand anything in return. The grace of God is free; we do not have to earn it. In fact, we cannot earn it. To the minds of mere humans, it seems too good to be true. But it is true! Grace is a gift, unearned favor from God on those that have sinned. “In the New Testament, grace means God’s love in action towards men who merited the opposite of love. Grace means God moving heaven and earth to save sinners who could not lift a finger to save themselves. Grace means God sending His only Son to descend into hell on the cross so that we guilty ones might be reconciled to God and received into heaven.” (Knowing God by J.I. Packer) God is perfect; so high above us, we cannot imagine it. He awesome in every way, He knows the number of hairs on our heads. And best of all, He loves us--in spite of ourselves and our

We have all done it. We have seen a person that was just too different than us, too loud, or too obnoxious, and we automatically write them off. We tend to write anyone off that seems “too sinful.” It may be a friend or co-worker that from the outside appears to not only enjoy the life of sin, but brags about it as well. Tax collectors were the outcasts of their time. They were looked down on and seen as one of the worst types of sinners that existed. They cheated and stole from the Jews, showing no remorse and bragging about their financial gain. Most everyone wrote off tax collectors--everyone but Jesus. In Matthew 9:9-13, Jesus walked up to a tax collector’s booth, looked Matthew straight in the eyes, and said, “Follow me.” Jesus chose an outcast to be one of the men He trusted most. The religious people judged Jesus for associating with the “sinners.” Jesus didn’t come for the healthy, but for the sick. He came to save us from our sin. Jesus doesn’t want the good deeds of the religious; He wants the faith

John 6:61-70 Jesus invites everyone to follow him. Being a sinner is a prerequisite. Having doubts is a prerequisite. That's because we're all sinners and we all have doubts.

Following Jesus results in overwhelming faith, but at times it can also be inconvenient, costly, and even embarrassing. It can cause us to miss opportunities, lose business, or stand out in the crowd when we'd rather fit in. Even Jesus' earliest followers wrestled with this tension. But one of his disciples asked a question that put everything in perspective: "To whom shall I go?"

Mark 10:42-45 We don't usually associate leadership with the church. Leadership is about what could and should be. We assume the church is about what has been. But Jesus was the greatest leader who ever lived. He modeled a unique approach to leadership that defies our expectations and changed the world.

 Jesus leveraged his authority for the benefit of those under his authority. Following Jesus means that when we find ourselves in positions of authority, we do the same.

Matthew 26:14-16, 27:3 Most of us don't become Christians with the intent of following Jesus. We become Christians because we are told obedience pays and disobedience doesn't. We become Christians hoping that spirituality will fill the holes in our souls. We become Christians hoping God will fix us. Eventually, our agendas clash with Jesus' agenda, and we have to decide whether we'll abandon him or follow.