Alpharetta church of Christ

A passage from this week’s #fivedayreadingplan reading: Galatians 6.9 #AlpharettacoC #Church #Christ #Scripture #Faith #Jesus #God #Alpharetta #Georgia #Worship #Bible #Word #Savior #Mighty #Lord #Gospel #NewTestament #OldTestament #ATL #Unity

Here’s the #fivedayreadingplan itinerary for 1/31-2/6. As always, leave a comment below to let us know what stands out to you from the reading this week! #AlpharettacoC #Church #Christ #Scripture #Faith #Jesus #God #Alpharetta #Georgia #Worship #Bible #Word #Savior #Mighty #Lord #Gospel #NewTestament #OldTestament #ATL #Unity

COME TO THE FEAST On one occasion Jesus attended a Sabbath meal in the house of a prominent Pharisee. Luke records how the guests were closely watching Jesus’ every move, scrutinizing him to see what he would do. But Jesus was also watching them. Some things he observed about their behavior provided the occasion for three parables.

A FEW MINUTES WITH DAN...

Due to connection issues, today’s worship service will not be live-streamed. We sincerely apologize for this inconvenience.

HE WHO REGARDS THE CLOUDS He who observes the wind will not sow, and he who regards the clouds will not reap (Ecclesiastes 11:4). The wisdom of this passage is understandable when we apply it to everyday life. If a farmer allows himself to become overly concerned with the threat of strong winds, he will not be busy working to plant his crops. He will not bring in a bountiful harvest if he is constantly worried about approaching storm clouds. The wise farmer must sow and rea...Continue reading

A FEW MINUTES WITH DAN The Parable of the Sower (II) The main point of this parable is the different soils on which the seed fell. They represent different kinds of hearers, and the kinds of hearts they have as they hear the word. Let's take a closer look at the parable and the lessons it teaches us about hearing God's word.

When Scripture speaks of the kingdom of God, our attention ought to be drawn to the power and dominion of the king. God's kingdom is his rule in the hearts of men. In this lesson, we consider three short parables by which Jesus continued to explore the theme of the growth of the kingdom: the parables of the Mustard Seed, Leaven, and the Growing Seed.

IN HIS TIME There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every season under heaven (Ecclesiastes 3:1). That there is an appointed time for everything is the fundamental truth discussed in this extended passage (Eccles. 3:1-8). What is appropriate on some occasions is not so at others. The passage presents a series of opposites reflecting the full range of life’s experiences, emotions, and decisionsbirth and death, planting and uprooting, weeping and l...aughing, embracing and refraining from embracing, love and hate, war and peace. The variation of our experiences through time presents a certain beauty and symmetry of life. But we are also reminded that we are ultimately not in control. We may sometimes even get the idea that we are just slaves of the seasons and times and what they bring to us in life. There is nothing we can do about it. But we also see evidence of a divine pattern given by God (Eccles. 3:11-15). Rather than a sense of changelessness, there is a greater purpose, a beginning and an end. It is part of God’s plan for us to have some unpleasantness in life to discipline us and teach us some valuable lessons. Seen from God’s perspective, everything is beautiful in its own time, even what appears to us to be harsh or negative. Each of the various processes of time has its own character. Each is beautiful in its own way. Each contributes to the overall beauty of the whole masterpiece. God has placed eternity in the hearts of men. Immersed in time, we as human beings made in the image of God long to know something of eternity. We long to see the whole picture, the grand design. Delitzsch summarized the thought well: God has not only assigned to each individually his appointed place in history He has also established in man an impulse leading him beyond that which is temporal toward the eternal: it lies in his nature not be contented with the temporal, but to break through the limits which it draws around him to escape from the bondage and the disquietude within which he is held, and amid the ceaseless changes of time to console himself by directing his thoughts to eternity. But, of course, we can never see perfectly, as God sees. The purpose of it all is known only to God. We can never quite step back far enough to view it as its Creator doesfrom beginning to end. But by faith, the believer sees all this as a gift from God, an allotted portion in life. So, what is good for man? To be joyful and do good (v. 12). To take pleasure in God’s gifts (v. 13). To remember that God is in charge, and fear him (vv. 14-15). These principles are expressed beautifully in the hymn In His Time (D. Ball, 1978): In His time, In His time He makes all things beautiful in His time. Lord please show me every day As You're teaching me Your way That You do just what You say In Your time. Dan Petty

A FEW MINUTES WITH DAN The main point of this parable is the different soils on which the seed fell. They represent different kinds of hearers, and the kinds of hearts they have as they hear the word. Let's take a closer look at the parable and the lessons it teaches us about hearing God's word.

A FEW MINUTES WITH DAN... These two parables, the Hidden Treasure and the Pearl of Great Price, are similar and seem to belong together. In each story, a man finds something of great worththe first perhaps by chance, and the second as the result of a long and constant search. In both parables men recognize the value of their discovery and gladly give up everything they own in order to gain the object of their devotion.

FIRST THINGS FIRST: PRAYER FOR ALL First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all the people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way (1 Timothy 2:1-2). Of all the matters that the apostle Paul wanted to address with Timothy, he first of all urged that attention be given to prayer....Continue reading

These two parables, the Hidden Treasure and the Pearl of Great Price, are similar and seem to belong together. In each story, a man finds something of great worththe first perhaps by chance, and the second as the result of a long and constant search. In both parables men recognize the value of their discovery and gladly give up everything they own in order to gain the object of their devotion.

A FEW MINUTES WITH DAN... It was a common sight on the hillsides of Palestine in the days of Jesus -- a sower sowing seed. So when Jesus uttered the immortal words, "Behold a sower went out to sow...." (Matt. 13:3), he was describing a scene that the multitudes who had come to hear him preach knew all too well.

A FEW MINUTES WITH DAN It was a common sight on the hillsides of Palestine in the days of Jesus -- a sower sowing seed. So when Jesus uttered the immortal words, "Behold a sower went out to sow...." (Matt. 13:3), he was describing a scene that the multitudes who had come to hear him preach knew all too well.

I've already posted an article from the NY Times about the death of Lindy McDaniel. I decided to write a bulletin article for our local church bulletin for thi...s Sunday and I share it here. He Always Put the Lord First By Wilson Copeland Eight days ago Lindy McDaniel left his earthly tabernacle and went home to be with the Lord. If you were not a baseball fan in the 50s & 60s you have probably never heard of Lindy McDaniel. Lindy was a bonus baby in an era of baseball when salaries were not high, but when teams would pay large bonuses to sign a young player right out of high school. Lindy signed with the St. Louis Cardinals for a bonus that today would be worth about a half million dollars. Lindy started his career with the Cardinals in 1955 and later also played for the Chicago Cubs, San Francisco Giants, New York Yankees, and Kansas City Royals. During his outstanding 21 year career he won 141 games, had 175 saves, and had a career earned run average of just 3.45. Twice he received the Fireman of the Year Award, given to the best relief pitcher in each league by The Sporting News Magazine. Although his stats did not elevate him to the Baseball Hall of Fame, he was recognized for many years as one of the most effective relief pitchers in baseball. But for those who knew him, Lindy McDaniel was more than an outstanding baseball player he was a devoted Christian. Those in baseball knew him as a Christian and a gentleman. He didn’t smoke or drink; he didn’t party after the games; he didn’t run around on his wife as many ballplayers did. He was known in baseball circles as being squeaky clean. Through the years he taught and baptized several of his teammates. At the time of his death (age 85, Covid related), he was an elder and evangelist for the Lavon church of Christ in Lavon, Texas (about 35 miles northeast of Dallas). For many years he printed a gospel paper called Pitching for the Master, which he mailed out for free to anyone who wanted to receive it. Some of his writings were later compiled and are still available on the internet at pitchingforthemaster.blogspot.com. Even as a young man, at an age when many are sowing their wild oats, Lindy was a man of great character and conviction. Lindy did something in his career that would be unheard of today (in fact, it was unheard of then). Lindy had it written into his contract that he would always attend worship services each Sunday before going to the ball park for a game. I read about this recently when someone was writing about his passing, but I knew it firsthand 55 years ago from my father (who heard it directly from Lindy). You see, my family lived in Long Beach, California, just a 35 minute drive from Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. Whenever the Cardinals were in town to play the Dodgers, my father would get up early on Sunday, drive to downtown Los Angeles to the hotel where the Cardinals were staying, and bring Lindy to church. As soon as services were over, Dad would drive him to Dodger Stadium for the game. You see, during his whole career, Lindy put first things first. The worship of his God always came first! What an impression that made on me as a young person. It was like a blazing newspaper headline seared into my brain: Famous baseball pitcher puts Jesus first. And I’m sure that there were many other young people throughout the country who were impressed in the same way as Lindy visited various congregations in the cities where he was playing. Lindy was letting his light shine. In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus said, But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you (Matt. 6:33). How are we doing at putting Jesus first in our lives? When we have to make a choice between work and worship, which wins? Sometimes we say, I have to work, and I realize that sometimes we do. But sometimes I wonder how hard people really try to get out of working on the Lord’s day. Do we really have to work, or do we choose to work? If asked to work by our supervisor do we try to push back? Do we approach our boss and explain that we would really like to attend church services on Sunday before coming in? I’m not saying that you have to quit your job or even make a stink, but with a good attitude and a humble approach do we even try? Have we allowed modern culture bully us into silence? Brethren, I worry about the erosion of our convictions. (Not just about working on Sunday, but about a lot of things.) I worry that we have become too fearful to stand our ground. I worry that there are certain things that we just accept as normal that maybe we should not accept. No one, and I mean NO ONE would have thought that a young 18 year old kid, fresh off the farm in Oklahoma, would have been able to walk into the sacred halls of America’s favorite pastime and tell a major league general manager in one of the most storied franchises in baseball history that he wanted a contract that would guarantee him the right to worship God on the Lord’s day before going to the ball park. But Lindy McDaniel did exactly that. And if Lindy could do that (in the big money, high pressure culture of major league sports), what are the possibilities that we might be successful (with God’s help) in pushing back against some of the cultural demands that are placed upon us today. Brethren, we are going to have to learn to push back. The world is not getting more godly or religious it’s getting darker and more corrupt by the day. The movement in our society is steadily away from God and toward the secular. It is time that we speak up and take a stand against the forces that are seeking our compromise and destruction. If he were still here I would say, Brother Lindy, you don’t even know who I am, but you made a huge impression on me as a child. Thank you for your example. Rest in peace, brother.

A FEW MINUTES WITH DAN... The presence of sin in the world is a reality. Wherever we look there are tares growing among the wheat--every nation, every city, every neighborhood, even every church. This sometime causes us to ask, How can God allow evil? Isn't this God's field, God's world?

How should we approach parables when we encounter them in Scripture? How should we read them? As with any portion of Scripture, it’s always important when reading the parables to consider the context of the passage.

A FEW MINUTES WITH DAN... How should we approach parables when we encounter them in Scripture? How should we read them? As with any portion of Scripture, it’s always important when reading the parables to consider the context of the passage.