The Corinthian church to which the Apostle Paul wrote was a congregation under siege. Satan has always tried to make the body of Christ into a pulseless corpse. The pagan environment surrounding the Corinth Church of Christ was trying to corrupt and kill her; unfortunately, with some success.

The message to that congregation was to hold true to each other and to the Lord while resisting the negative influences of a corrupt culture. Toward that end, the first letter to the Corinthians begins with words of thanksgiving. Paul reminds them, “God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord” (1 Corinthians 1:9).

The faithfulness of God and our fellowship in the Son is the heartbeat of our faith. We give thanks for these gifts we’ve received.

Now, check your pulse. As a Christian don’t you feel the steady, strong beat of thanksgiving? God’s grace, provision, redemption, and direction keep us alive and healthy. Therefore, we, with Paul, can declare “I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge – even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you – so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 1:4-8).

-Paul Merideth

Sin is the ultimate culprit in church splits. One sin that causes multiple problems is a lack of forgiveness. No Christian is perfect, and no preacher or elder or deacon is perfect. When all these imperfect people get together, disagreements, hurt feelings, and misunderstandings are inevitable. If we have unrealistic expectations of one another, like perfection, then disappointments will happen. Our response to one another must be to forgive in kindness and compassion (Ephesians 4:32; Colossians 3:13). Once we are committed to forgiving, we will see each other’s differences in new light. But if we react to differences of opinion by taking sides and gossiping, the split will widen, more harm will be done to church members, and our message to the world will be compromised.

A church split may happen when someone seeks to manipulate people and/or events for their own ends. Pride can easily creep into a person’s motives and warp their behavior. James says, “What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don’t they come from the evil desires at war within you? You want what you don’t have…. And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong- – you want only what will give you pleasure” (James 4:1-3 NLT).

Ultimately, the church is only as strong as its individual members. Christians are influenced daily by an immoral culture, and one hour a week on Sunday is wholly inadequate to counter the culture. The world’s standard is about self-promotion, and other people have value only insofar as they are willing to idolize us the way we idolize ourselves. Such an attitude always leads to “dissension and jealousy” (Romans 13:13). The only remedy is for us to “do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves” (Philippians 2:3 ESV).

Church splits are prevented through forgiveness, repentance, and humility. If there is disagreement, both sides should repent of anything said or done in an unloving manner. In humility, each should forgive and commit to go forward in the bonds of Christian love. There must be no place in the Christian’s heart for holding a grudge or being passive aggressive.

The causes of divisions in the church are many, but ultimately the main reason for a church split is that someone has taken their focus off of Jesus Christ and begun to use the church for their own ends. We are to be the body which does the will of the Head, Jesus Christ. If everyone is focused on what’s best for the church and doing the will of God, then there may be disagreement, but it will be worked out in a loving and appropriate manner.

-Paul Merideth, Watterson Trail Church of Christ, Jeffersontown, KY

When I was a kid, my favorite church song was “Ten Thousand Angels.” As a young boy, I was enamored with the idea of God’s well-armed angelic army. I could imagine them sweeping upon the earth to destroy those tyrants who were arresting and crucifying Jesus. For me, it roused this aggressive idea of God using military force to accomplish his will, springing into action with a celestial rescue mission while killing the bad guys.

Thankfully, God has accomplished his will without requiring our destruction. Though, because of our sin, we deserved no pardon, he, nevertheless, poured out his mercy and grace for our forgiveness in the death of his son (Romans 5:15-21). In fact, the death of Jesus on the cross was the key part of God’s redemptive plan for humanity’s atonement (1 Peter 2:24; 1 Peter 3:18; Philippians 2:8; Colossians 2:13-14).

Even now I can vividly imagine, as Jesus was being arrested, mistreated, and crucified, the armies of heaven were watching with disgust. I envisage legions of angels with swords drawn, grimaces on their faces, on the edge of heaven just longing for the “go” signal to then descend and make right with supernatural force the terrible injustice they were seeing. I imagine this powerful army was leaning off the brink of heaven’s edge on their tiptoes just itching to crash down upon wicked humanity and rescue Jesus Christ from the villains. I can hear them muttering through gritted teeth, “He belongs on the throne of heaven and not on a human cross of shame.”

And then I imagine my Lord Jesus Christ giving them a gentle “no” nod and speaking these words: “Put your sword back into its place. Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then should the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so?” (Matthew 26:52-54).

Jesus remained faithful to the divine plan of our redemption that included his death, even though that involved horrible suffering and sacrifice on his part. He endured the cross because, for us to have eternal life, “it must be so.”

You see, it was really not the soldiers who held Jesus captive, as if he needed angels to come and rescue him. Rather, he was compelled to submit to those sinful men because of his love for us. He endured the humiliation, and though they struck him and they cursed him and mocked his holy name, he suffered everything for you and me.

-Paul Merideth, Watterson Trail Church of Christ

Jeremy Taylor wrote, “By friendship you mean the greatest love, the greatest use- fulness, the most open communication, the noblest sufferings, the severest truth, the heartiest counsel, and the greatest union of minds of which brave men and women are capable.” The value of friendship is truly tremendous. Euripides said, “Life has no blessing like a prudent friend.” Oliver Wendell Holmes wrote, “Fame is the scentless sunflower with gaudy crown of gold; but friendship is the breathing rose, with sweets in every fold.”

Proverbs 17:17 says, “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” A little later in the book of Proverbs we see a further parallel between a “friend” and a “brother”: “There are friends who pretend to be friends, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother” (18:24). This dramatic kinship imagery is employed in order to solicit a stirring of our emotions. By comparing friendship to the powerful bond of blood brothers the intensity of its significance is emphasized. In other words, God wants us to realize how tremendously important friendship is to each of us.

Let’s be sure to value our friends and let them know how much we appreciate them. Also, let’s be sure to be faithful as a friend should be to those we love.

Above everything else we need to realize that the most important friendship in our life is with the Lord. Jesus is our greatest friend and companion. John 15:13-15 says, “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.” Are you a friend to Jesus?

-Paul Merideth  is the Preacher for the  Watterson Trail Church of Christ in Jeffersontown, KY

First, I asked two young men to speak at our Thanksgiving service at Lebanon Road. Both are college students, and I assumed that they had the entire week off of school. It turns out, both of them did not, but accepted anyway. [And, might I add, both did a tremendous job!]

Second, when I issues the “no TV” challenge on Monday on this blog, one of the responses I got was via Twitter. It was from a college student who said that he wouldn’t have any problem taking that challenge, since he would be writing papers all night.

Both of these reminded me of how busy our college students are. It also has caused me to think some about how congregations can help our college students. At Lebanon Road, we have a different perspective, because we have both (1) students who go away to school, as well as (2) students who come to schools in Nashville but are away from home. We also have students who live here and go to school here.

Here are some things that we do, as well as some general suggestions that might help your congregations support college students even better.

1. Remember students in prayer often and specifically. Hopefully, this doesn’t need much explanation!

2. Have a college class, no matter how small it might be. This is one of the most frustrating classes to teach, because you never know how many will be present (if anyone!), but you need to offer this class.

3. Include the college students in adult/young adult activities. If you have an adult retreat, cookout, special series, or other activity, make sure those college students are invited.

4. Send care packages. Some of our ladies coordinate sending care packages to all our students, and they are fantastic! Included are different things each time, but usually they try to include a small gift card to a fast food place, so the students can enjoy a meal out for free. Make this a priority.

5. Stay in contact. In our tech society, there is no excuse for not keeping up with college students. Through email, text, Facebook (where most college students live!), Twitter, and other outlets, you can send regular words of encouragement, and make sure the students always feel like part of the home congregation.

6. Realize the balance of involvement. As with anyone who is busy, college students need to be asked to help in the work of the Church, but also need to be allowed the ability to say, “no” or “not right now.” Some adults just can’t believe that students are busy. Folks, our college students are swamped!

7. Don’t be afraid to speak up. College life can breed temptations that are both real and powerful. Be loving, but speak up when you see something that doesn’t look right. I have done this a few times with college students. Some haven’t taken it well (and it may have been my fault for the way I worded something), but most have been thankful and gracious.

8. Remember the finances. Most college students are full-time students, and are living on very little money. What money they do make is often spent trying to woo the right girl or guy, or on all the fees of student life. If your congregation charges money for some activities, pay for a college student to attend. That $30 retreat that the adults are taking? Why not pay for your family, and one college student? It’s an investment you’ll never regret.

9. Visit or have them visit. If you go to a campus for a ball game or concert, try to figure out a way to see the students from the congregation. If you don’t go on campus much, have them over for a meal in the summer, or on Christmas break. Let them be reminded that you love them and are real.

10. Finally, one for elders. When it comes time for a college student to move away, support them in every way possible. A 21- or 22-year-old who is looking for that first job and has to move a long way off needs all the support he or she can get. Write a letter to the local eldership or preacher. Make sure their moving expenses are taken care of (within reason, of course). You may even want to have an elder visit with them on their first Sunday in a new location if it’s not too far away. Shepherd these precious young adults through this transition.

The principle of “giving thanks” is firmly rooted in Scripture. Notice Colosians 2:6-7 where it says: “Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus The Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.” The Apostle Paul is talking about how as Christians we are truly “alive in thanksgiving.” He mentions such profound points as receiving Christ, abiding in Him, being rooted and built up in Him and being established in the faith. Then, at the end of verse 7 he concludes by saying we are to “abounding in thanksgiving.” There is a deliberate ongoing force to the statement. Basically, he says that we are to overflow with a heart of gratitude and KEEP ON being thankful! That means Thanksgiving Everyday!

We have so much to be thankful for to God. Let us truly have hearts of thanksgiving all the time. Let us be “abounding in thanksgiving” each moment of our lives. I believe that when we grow in our ability and capacity to recognize and appreciate God’s blessings more in our lives, then we are better quipped to serve Him. We want to be people of gratitude and we want to be a church that is filled to the brim with thanksgiving to God for his abundant blessings. So much so, that when out­siders come and visit we want them to be amazed at our joy and when they as us “Why?” we say: “Because I’ve been so blessed.”

We give thanks to God for His work in our lives. Let us work to give Him committed devo­tion in love and service each day. I hope you have a great Thanksgiving.

-Paul Merideth preaches for the Watterson Trail Church of Christ in Jeffersontown, KY

The Gospel According to John begins with, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” Couple this with verse 14, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth” and we have a dynamic affirmation of the deity of Jesus Christ. The grammar of the Greek definitively asserts he is “God,” not “a god.”

The human existence of Jesus was a unique appearance of the mind of God. The Incarnation is the most powerful manifestation of divine in-breaking and revelation. The implications of this are striking, especially for our faith. The reality of God in human flesh demonstrates the unexplainable depth of God’s love for humanity. It presents a God who is desperate to manifest himself to us in a physical, relatable way. Steven Smith, in his article Christology of Preaching (SWJT, Spring 2008) says, “Incarnation speaks of the ‘carnal God,’ the God who is enfleshed in the person of Jesus of Nazareth; literally, if somewhat crassly, God con carne, ‘God with meat on.’” Hence, the Incarnation is amazing testimony to the degree of God’s love for us.

Furthermore, the Incarnation teaches us something about the nature of God’s revelation. The Word of God came to biblical authors via divine inspiration, but in the Incarnation the Word comes in the form of flesh and blood. Hence, we hang on Jesus’ every word. When Jesus was in conversation with individuals it was a unique dialogue. Those who conversed with Jesus were engaged in a conversation like no other. He is the embodiment of divine truth and thus his every word, every syllable, constituted special divine revelation.

The Incarnation does not mean that Jesus casually “hung out” on earth for a while and then left. Rather, it means that he submitted to a double humiliation. First, is the human form and then second, death even on a cross (Philippians 2:5-11). His “hanging out” was supremely uncomfortable.

That God would go to such extraordinary lengths to offer salvation to you and me is staggering. Who are we to refuse to live for Him when he’s done so much for us? That Jesus would humble himself in taking on the form of a man and ultimately die on a cross of shame, staggers our spiritual senses. We have such a loving God; a God who can relate to the human condition with all its pains (Hebrews 4:15). The Incarnation carnally displays God’s great love, it showcases the greatness of our Savior, and it empowers us to truly know the Lord.

-Paul N. Merideth

“If some e would ask you, “How can I become a Christian (I.e. Be saved from sin and come into Christ), what specifically would you tell them?

In order to be saved we must first understand that we are condemned by our sin and in need of a Savior (Romans 3:23). Thankfully, God, through the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross, has made provision for our forgiveness and freedom from sin. To access this provision we must first learn and engage with the gospel message that through Christ we can have eternal life (John 3:16; 14:6). We must have faith that Jesus is who He claimed to be, the Son of God and Redeemer of humanity (Romans 10:17; Hebrews 11:6). We must be willing to repent/turn from a former life of sin and commit to the Christian faith (Luke 13:3). We must confess/affirm/admit our belief that Jesus Christ is the Son of God (Matthew 10:32). And we must be baptized/immersed in water for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38; Mark 16:16; Galatians 3:27). Baptism is the culminating component to the conversion event but it is not the end. Rather, baptism marks the beginning of new life in Christ (Romans 6:3-11). We are added to the church and henceforth seek to live a faithful and devoted life for God’s glory.

- Paul Merideth

Watterson Trail Church of Christ, Jeffersontown, KY

Someone once wrote about a traveler who fell into a deep pit and couldn’t get out. Several per­sons came along and saw him struggling in the pit.

• The sensitive person said, “I feel sorry for you down there in that pit.”
• The reflective person said, “It’s logical that someone would fall into the pit.”
• The aesthetic person said, “I can give you ideas on how to decorate your pit.”
• The judgmental person said, “Only bad persons fall into pits.”
• The curious person said, “Tell me how you fell into the pit.”
• The perfectionist said, “I believe you deserve your pit.”
• The evaluator asked, “Are you paying taxes on this pit?”
• The self-pitying person said, “You should have seen my pit.”
• The counselor said, “Just relax and don’t think about the pit.”
• The optimist said, “Cheer up! Things could be worse.”
• The pessimist said, “Be prepared! Things will get worse.”

Jesus, seeing the man, loved him, and lifted him out of the pit!

A Christian can truthfully sing, “I was sinking deep in sin, far from the peaceful shore” when “love lifted me!”

Allen Webster, in “Seven Things God Hates.”