Posts by Southwest Church of Christ
Our God is a Gardener
When one meditates upon who God is, there are many titles, adjectives, and descriptors that may come to mind. According to the pages of Scripture, our God is a God of War (Exodus 15:3), He is a Shepherd (Psalm 23:1), and He is a Refuge (Psalm 46:1). There are many characteristics that could be attributed to God, but did you know He is a gardener? In Genesis 2:8, the Bible says, “The LORD God planted a garden…” (NASB 95). In…
The Effectual Doer
A failure to practice the Word of God causes us to forget who we are. While hearing and humbly receiving the Word of God are essential (James 1:19-21), we “delude” ourselves if we do not also believe it necessary to become a “doer of the Word” (James 1:22, NASB 95). If we fail to act upon the Scriptures, we will be like the forgetful man in James 1:23,24. As soon as he looked away from the mirror, he immediately forgot…
Our God, He is Alive (Jeremiah 10:10)
In the 1960’s, there appeared to be a major moral decline in this country. Supreme Court rulings in the Engel v. Vitale (1962) and the Abington School District v. Schempp (1963) cases paved the way for more removal of prayer and Bible out of our public school systems. Books like The Death of God (Vahanian, 1961) and Radical Theology and the Death of God (Altizer, 1963) were published and became very popular. What seemed to be the lowest valley of…
Let’s Get to Work! (Mark 16:15)
Dear brothers and sisters, words cannot fully express how thrilled Shelby and I are to work with this wonderful congregation. It is our goal to work alongside you as we all strive to imitate our Lord Jesus and diligently follow that great commission He gave His followers all those years ago (Matthew 28:19,20; Mark 16:15). When Jesus came to this earth, He came with a divine mission from His Father. When an angel appeared to Joseph in a dream, he…
From the Director’s Desk (September 2024) – Trent Kennedy
The Case for the Local Church One of our second-year students recently asked me how he or any other new graduate could be most useful in the Kingdom. I suppose that is a matter of opinion that demands awareness, wisdom, discernment, and consideration for each individual given their personal abilities and situation. However, I think the answer I gave him could be easily applied to any new preacher, old preacher, or non-preacher. I told him that I thought the best…
The Book of Hosea – Joey Davis
Hosea was a prophet from the Northern Kingdom who was commissioned by God to prophesy to said kingdom (Hos. 4:17; 6:4). Hosea’s work is peculiar in many ways, but perhaps the feature that stands out the most is the comparative use of Hosea’s personal life as it typifies God’s relationship with the nation of Israel. Some have called Hosea the prophet with the broken heart. Consider God’s words through the prophet: “How can I give you up, Ephraim? How can…
To the Work!
As the Southwesterner is being published preceding the graduation of SWSBS class of 2024, the congregation is busy getting ready for the banquet and for graduation Sunday. Of course, we are reflecting on the relationships that have been made and rejoice in the spiritual growth of the student body. Having been immersed in the scriptures and introduced to the work of evangelists, there have been valuable lessons learned in time management. Who knew that even sleep would be a matter…
Am I My Brother’s Keeper?
One of the most thought-provoking questions in the Bible is the one asked by Cain. When the Lord questioned Cain concerning the brother whom he murdered, Abel, his response was: “Am I my brother’s keeper?” (Gen. 4:9). This is a question we need to ask ourselves today. Do we have a responsibility to watch out for and care for one another? When we turn to the New Testament, it becomes clear that the answer is absolutely Consider our responsibilities to…
Submit Not to Temptation
A wonderful blessing that we receive, when we become Christians, is the forgiveness of sins through the blood of Jesus Christ in baptism (Acts 22:16), but this does not mean that our problem with sin is over. In matter of fact, we still sin at times (1 John 1:8, 10). Thankfully, the Scriptures outlines the development of sin and how to overcome (James 1:12-15). The first stage is temptation (James 1:14). It includes two things: desire and enticement (an opportunity…
The Holiness of Christ
“Be Holy, for I am Holy” (1 Pet. 1:16). This is a call that rings upon every page of Scripture. It stretches from the foundation of the world to the end of time. From a people enslaved in Egypt to the redeemed of all ages. Its foundation is eternal, because it stands within the very nature of our Holy God. So, let’s consider the holiness of God our Savior and see what we can learn from Him. The call to…
Developing the Mind of Christ
“For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Phil. 1:21). What Paul says here about his own identity with Christ is to be true of all Christians. Christ is “our life” just as he was Paul’s (Col. 3:4). Within living this life of Christ, it has to do with taking on the mind of Christ. That is why Paul commands in Philippians 2:5, “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.” Yet,…
The Pure in Heart
Did you know that at the heart ofevery snowflake, there is a tiny speck of dust? Typically, they are known for their beauty and symbol of purity, but in reality, they are dirty-hearted little snowflakes. When it comes to us, is it the same? What are we at our core when we look beneath the facade or the dressing? The word, “pure,” carried the idea of “unmixed; it is a singleness of heart, as opposed to a divided heart.” In…