Posts by Graeber Road Church of Christ

Malachi 3:3 says: “He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver.” This verse puzzled some women in a Bible study and they wondered what this statement meant about the character and nature of God. One of the women offered to find out the process of refining silver and get back to the group at their next Bible Study. That week, the woman called a silversmith and made an appointment to watch him at work. She didn’t mention…

Then I Said to them, “You see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lies waste, and its gates are burned with fire. Come and let us build the wall of Jerusalem, that we may no longer be a reproach.” 18 And I told them of the hand of my God which had been good upon me, and also of the king’s words that he had spoken to me. So they said, “Let us rise up and build.” Then…

Earnest Shackleton and his men sailed for Antarctica on the very day that England declared war on Germany in WWI. At their first port of call the party sent word they would abandon their expedition and offered themselves and the ship to their country. But Shackleton received a cable from a man who could see the ultimate value of the venture even in the moment of a national struggle for survival. The message was a single word: “Proceed,” and it…

It was an emergency situation. At least it was for a 6-year-old Florida boy who felt like he needed to call 911 to report it. When the responding officer arrived, the little boy told him his emergency: he was lonely, and needed a friend. Officer White told him that he would be the boy’s friend, brought him a stuffed animal, and let him sit in the police car. Being lonely and needing a friend is a common occurrence. Knowing what…

This week our nation celebrates Freedom – Independence – the ability to live and worship freely. We cherish the word “Freedom”, yet we recognize that securing that Freedom and maintaining that Freedom has come at a great Price! Those patriots who fought to secure these Freedoms knew the great cost involved. And so, as they closed the Declaration of Independence, they included these words: And for the support of this declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine…

On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Now both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding. And when they ran out of wine, the mother of Jesus said to Him, “They have no wine.“ Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me? My hour has not yet come.“ His mother said to the servants, “Whatever He says to you, do…

When we’ve sinned, whether against God or man, asking forgiveness is one of the most difficult things we must do. Godly sorrow, which works repentance (2 Cor 7:10), is difficult to come by when our reputation and our pride are at stake. Admitting we’re wrong is just plain hard! Pride is a gigantic boulder on the road to reconciliation. When relationships need to be mended, whether with God or men, we need to take heed how we try to mend.…

Our righteous God is terrible; His strength none can endure. He makes the haughty low with time; And elevates the pure. Were not the Lord upon our side, The flood would overwhelm. Were not the righteous God with us, A pilot at the helm. Our righteous God is terrible; His strength none can endure. He chastens those he loves with care, To make their faith secure. Were not the Lord upon our side, The flood would overwhelm. Were not the…

Stress. Pain. Anguish. Grief. The Christian experiences all of these emotions from time to time. How should our faith respond? Psalm 119:73-80 deals with our attitude toward affliction in light of the richness of God’s word. Notice the following: God gives life meaning (v.73) “Your hands have made me and fashioned me; give me understanding that I may learn Your commandments.” Not only has God created us, but His word enlightens us to our true purpose. Truly, that which honors…

Some 21 times in Romans 16, Paul uses the word “greet” in sending kind regards to many brethren that he knows in Rome. Consider some of the people he greets: Those who risked their lives for Paul – Prisca & Aquila (Rom. 16:3). Various workers in the Lord – Mary (Rom. 16:6), Urbanus (Rom. 16:9), Tryphanaena and Tryphosa, and Persis (Rom. 16:12). Those who suffered with Paul – Andronicus, Junia (Rom. 16:7). Those who are well loved, but mostly unknown…

One of Jesus’ favorite teaching tools was to ask pointed questions of His listeners. Some of His greatest lessons are still “brought home” simply because He asks us to think deeply about truth. The Lord’s questions can cut quickly to the heart of a matter, and they are surely worthy of our study. Think upon these things: “Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise, take up your bed and walk?’”…

James 2 is a chapter well-known and respected by Christians because of its discussion of faith and works (cf. 2:14-26). In that section of Scripture, faith that doesn’t express itself in outward action is “no good” and “can’t save” (vs. 14), “dead” (vs. 17), “useless” (vs. 20) and “as the body apart from the spirit is dead, even so is faith without works” (vs. 26). There can be no living of a life well pleasing in the sight of God…