church of Christ at 26th and Connecticut
Joplin, Missouri

Phone
417-781-2326

1819 E 26th
Jopin, MO  64804

   Worship Schedule

Sunday
    Bible Class              9 am
    Morning Worship    10 am
    Evening Worship      6 pm

Wednesday
     Devotional & Class   7 pm
 

Upcoming Activities
 
 
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The Encouragement of Good news

 

     Good news…We all certainly like to hear it.  It’s out there; but, it seems that we almost have to purposely look for it to find it.  That’s because there seems to be a surplus of bad news.  When we watch the evening news, what is it that we primarily hear? – bad news – wars, crimes, tragedies, economic hardships, natural disasters, etc.  When we open the newspaper and read the major headlines, what do we often times find? – the same bad news.  We simply don’t have to look very hard to find bad news.  It seems to come to us.  So, yes, it’s awfully nice to hear some good news along the way.

     Last week, I received some very good news from a good friend in Sallisaw, OK.  Before I get to the good news, I would like to tell you a little bit about this friend.  He had basically been a work-a-holic – up and out of the house before the sun came up, back home after the sun had gone down.  For him, the word “weekend” was merely a figure of speech and a day off was a foreign concept.   And, although his wife had been a dedicated, faithful member of the church for many years, he simply didn’t set aside any time for spiritual matters.  He found it easier to avoid the spiritual aspect of life than to address it.  Yet, over time and a sequence of events, that all changed.  He began attending services on a regular basis.  He studied his Bible.  And, yes, he obeyed the Gospel of Christ.  And, when he did, he “hit the ground running.”  He took an immediate interest in the church and looked for ways to be involved.  One such way was helping me with a Bible study every Friday at the county jail.  For over a year, Johnny contributed to instructing and encouraging those men.  And I’m glad to report that, although I’ve returned to Joplin, Johnny continues to carry on the good work at the Sequoyah County Jail.

     Now, the good news that Johnny passed along to me.  Three more inmates who have been participating in the weekly Bible studies have requested baptism.

(That brings the total to 8 inmates in all.)  What wonderful news!  Such a scenario reminds me of Paul’s words in Romans 1:16 – “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.”  When the Gospel is given a place in an open heart, it transforms lives.  These men - amidst their struggles, amidst the consequences of decisions that they’ve come to regret, amidst their days of monotony in concrete cells – have been introduced to the hope of the Gospel – the good news­ regarding Jesus.  And now, their response to the Good News has become good news for others – a source of rejoicing, encouragement, strength and motivation for Johnny, for me and for you.  Yes, it is nice to hear good news!

     And, we’ve had some good news here as well.  With the recent addition of the Watts to the congregation and Ronnie Houston’s obedience to the Gospel of Christ, we’ve enjoyed some good news.  And, I’m fully confident that as we continue to work – in our congregation, in our homes, in our community – there will be more good news to share in the New Year which now upon us.

 

“So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth.” (1 Corinthians 3:7)