WE CARE ABOUT YOU!
A modern cry was expressed long ago by David in Scripture: "No one is concerned for me...no one cares for my soul" (Psalm 142:4). Does anyone really care?
Our world often seems cold and uncaring. A few years ago in Los Angeles, a man dubbed John Doe No. 171 died...and no one seemed to care. He was a homeless man. His body lay decomposing for several days by City Hall, as pedestrians ignored it and gardeners watered around it.
Our depersonalized society has crowded cities filled with strangers. The modern apartment dweller may not know the people next door. Families are often fractured or uprooted. Our fast-paced age has everyone busy going their separate ways. Many feel empty and alone. This is revealed in the sad story of Judith Bucknell. She was 38, attractive and a successful executive secretary in Miami. She was tragically stabbed to death on June 9 a few years ago. The police found a diary. It told of her lonely plight. She had no family. The Miami Herald ran a feature on her and commented: "Judith Bucknell has failed to connect...many lovers, much love offered, none returned." Here is a diary excerpt: "What about me!...Who is going to love Judy Bucknell? I feel so old. Unloved. Unwanted. Abandoned. Used up. I want to cry and sleep forever....I'm alone and I want to share something with somebody."
DOES ANYONE CARE ENOUGH TO HELP?
In this heartless world, most seem to just look out for #1. Selfish unconcern, strife, envy, gossip and betrayal in human relationships are, according to the Bible, all symptoms of man's sinful corruption and alienation from God (Romans 1:28-32; 3:19-18; Titus 3:3).
But there is hope! Someone really cares about you. We do! We are simple New Testament Christians, endeavoring to be caring followers of Jesus Christ. God in the gospel of peace has shown us the better way.
WHY DO WE CARE ABOUT YOU?
This might sound trite, but it is really true. We have come to know God's loving care that has changed our lives. "We love because He first loved us" (1 John 4:19). God gave the best and dearest He had, His Son Jesus, to save us from our sins (John 3:16). Jesus' death on the cross is the greatest demonstration of love the world has ever known (Romans 5:6-8). The just died for the unjust, the righteous for the unworthy (1 Peter 3:18). Love is the greatest power in the world. Nails did not hold Jesus to the cross...love did. We marvel at the gospel of the second chance.
Christ cares about you because you are made in God's spiritual image (Genesis 1:27). You are destined to live somewhere forever. Everyone with God has eternal significance. With Christ, there are no unimportant people, no insignificant lives. God plays no favorites. "God shows no partiality. But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him" (Acts 10:34-35). You are unique to God and He cares about you as much as anyone else who has ever lived!
Jesus, when He walked among men, was known as "a friend of tax collectors and sinners" (Matthew 11:19). He cared about everyone, even the down and out. "But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd" (Matthew 9:36). He cared enough to get involved and to point people back to God.
Jesus taught us to "love your neighbor as yourself" (Mark 12:31). No man is an island. We are trying to be caring people who honestly love others as Christ first loved us. The dog-eat-dog, back-stabbing ways of the world bring pain and problems, like when others walk all over you up the ladder of carnal success.
WE CARE ABOUT YOUR PROBLEMS
Everyone has problems -- some big, some small, but all very real and discouraging. Do you sometimes feel stressed out with the burdens of life? Do you feel you cannot change for the better?
We have found the solution to our problems. Jesus offers a gracious invitation: "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls" (Matthew 11:28-29). We have found refreshing rest from life's daily grind in following Christ. The root of most of our problems is our sin which alienates us from our Maker (Romans 3:23).
In Christ, we become part of a loving, caring family. "Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart" (1 Peter 1:22). The Lord wants His people, the church of Christ, to be a warm, nurturing, understanding, accepting community of believers. "Bear one another's burdens, and thus fulfill the law of Christ" (Galatians 6:2). We are to help one another in fulfilling Christ's law of love (John 13:34-35). We all have problems and faults to overcome, so we should care enough to help.
This nurturing care in God's spiritual family is the answer to our modern uprootedness. "Jesus said, 'Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel's, who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time; houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions; and in the age to come, eternal life" (Mark 10:29-30). We have found this spiritual promise to be true.
No, we cannot help solve all your problems, but we can point you to solutions in God's Word, the book of life. Since we're fellow-strugglers in this fallen world, we care about your problems.
WE CARE ABOUT GOD'S WORD
In looking for answers to our problems, isn't it strange that so many who say they believe in God overlook His answers in the Bible? "O LORD, I know the way of man is not in himself; It is not in man who walks to direct his own steps" (Jeremiah 10:23). "There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death" (Proverbs 14:12). God made us and He knows how we work best. We believe the Bible holds the answer to all of life's most important questions: Who am I? Where did I come from? Where am I going? Why am I here? "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man's all. For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil" (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14). The psalmist knew the powerful relevance of God's Word in daily life: "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path....Unless your law had been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction" (Psalms 119:105,92).
Believing "back to the Bible" is the answer to our religious questions, all our teaching is strictly based on the New Testament of Christ as our rule of faith and practice. Jesus said, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" (John 8:31-32; cf. 12:48; 2 Timothy 3:16-17). We are just Christians, and seek to "glorify God in that name" (1 Peter 4:16). We wear no human denominational names. This is what the original Christians were, loyal to Christ and His Word only (Acts 11:20-26). The same pure gospel seed planted in your heart and obeyed in faith will make you the same thing today (Luke 8:11,15). We make up a local church of the Lord, without any human denominational ties. We are striving to be patterned after the original model of Christ's church in work and worship found in the New Testament (Acts 2:42-47; 20:7; Philippians 1:1,27; 1 Timothy 3:15).
We care about you and want to help you know the transforming truth of Christ's living Word. We know by careful study that it can come alive and practically apply to your life.
WE CARE ABOUT YOUR SOUL
When you visit us, you will find a friendly welcome. Yet, some may be skeptical: "What are you after?" Many have been burned by hypocritical religion. Others have been "turned-off" by money-grubbing churches. Yet, Paul states our sincere care for you and your spiritual welfare: "I do not seek what is yours, but you" (2 Corinthians 12:14).
This church exists to serve, not just to be served. The most vital concern we could serve is your soul's welfare. The most important part of us is our eternal spirit destined to live somewhere forever. Where will you spend eternity? Jesus asks you, "What shall it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his soul?" (Mark 8:36).
Are you in touch with the part of you that will live somewhere forever? Don't leave this to chance! Where are you on your journey to eternity? Someone has said, "Get ready for eternity -- there's no stopping it!"
We care enough about you to invite you to become a fellow seeker with us of the truth of Christ and of that eternal home of the soul. Are you looking for answers and meaning in life? Are you looking for sincere people who care? Please contact us. Come, worship with us. Search God's Word with us. We believe you will not be disappointed but will find what you really need.
Remember, someone cares about you. We do! Come, visit us. Let us hear from you. Write our minister at WFrankWalton@juno.com
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