Manchester Church of Christ: Recent Episodes

Manchester Church of Christ

Weekly Sermons at the Manchester Church of Christ in Manchester, CT

The True Vine

As we conclude our series “Who is Jesus?”, we arrive at the final “I am” statement that wraps up our journey through Jesus’ profound self-revelations. Throughout our exploration, Jesus has declared, “I am the Bread of Life” – offering spiritual sustenance that satisfies our deepest hunger. We’ve seen Him as “the Light of the World,” illuminating the darkness of our spiritual confusion. We discovered Him as “the Door,” providing exclusive access to salvation and abundant life. We’ve examined how He is “the Good Shepherd” who knows His sheep intimately, laying down His life for their protection and guidance. We marveled at His declaration of being “the Resurrection and the Life,” demonstrating power over death itself. We were challenged by His proclamation of being “the Way, the Truth, and the Life” – the singular path to relationship with God the Father. Now, in John 15:1-11, Jesus presents His final “I am” statement: “I am the true vine.” This statement ties together all the different pictures of Jesus we’ve explored. Just as a branch cannot produce fruit by itself but must remain connected to the vine, we cannot live a truly meaningful spiritual life apart from Christ. He is not just our sustenance, our light, our access, our shepherd, our life, and our way – He is the very source of our spiritual flourishing. As we conclude our series exploring who Jesus is, this passage reminds us that Jesus is not just a historical figure or a distant concept. He is the source of our life, our strength, and our purpose. In Him, we find bread that satisfies, light that guides, a door to salvation, a shepherd who protects, resurrection power, and the way to eternal life – all flowing from this intimate connection as branches to the true vine. The invitation remains: Abide in Him, and He will abide in you.

Caleb McCaughan, Preaching Minister

Dinner Table Conversations

Adult & Teen Table Talk:

If being a branch requires total dependence on the vine, what “independent” attitudes or behaviors might be preventing you from fully abiding in Christ?How does the image of Jesus as the “true vine” challenge or complement your current understanding of your relationship with God?In what specific ways can you intentionally “abide” in Christ this week? What practical steps might help you stay connected? Little Learners’ Table Talk:

Just like a branch needs a tree to grow, how do you think we need Jesus to grow in our hearts?What do you think Jesus means when He says He’s like a vine and we’re like branches? Can you draw a picture of what that might look like? Who is Jesus? – The True Vine

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The Way, the Truth, and the Life

In John 14:6, Jesus makes a profound declaration: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” This powerful statement reveals four critical aspects of Christ’s identity and mission that challenge our understanding of faith and purpose. By saying “I AM,” Jesus intentionally connects himself to God’s divine name revealed to Moses in the burning bush. This wasn’t a casual statement, but a deliberate claim to divinity that would have shocked his original Jewish audience. The religious leaders of his time understood exactly what he was saying—and it was precisely why they sought to silence him. Further, Jesus says he is the way. He doesn’t merely point toward salvation; he is the definitive path to God. In a world of countless philosophies and spiritual paths, Christ offers something unique: himself as the ultimate guide. Jesus is also the truth—not just a truth, but Truth itself. In an age where truth is often reduced to personal opinion or relative perspective, Christ offers an absolute, unchanging reality. He provides meaning that transcends cultural shifts and personal interpretations. Most importantly, Jesus is life. In a world corrupted by sin and marked by spiritual death, Christ offers complete freedom and eternal hope. Through his sacrificial death and resurrection, he conquers the power of sin and offers us a life beyond our own limitations. This message challenges our typical approach to spirituality. We often seek salvation through personal effort, good works, or various philosophical paths. However, Jesus offers something radically different: a personal relationship with himself. He doesn’t just provide directions—he is the direction. If you’re feeling troubled by life’s uncertainties, Jesus speaks directly to you: “I AM the way, the truth, and the life.” His invitation isn’t about following rules, but about discovering purpose through a transformative relationship with him.

Caleb McCaughan, Pulpit Minister

Dinner Table Conversations:

Adult & Teen Table Talk:

Reflect on a time when you felt troubled or uncertain. How might Jesus’s words “Do not let your hearts be troubled” speak to your situation?The text suggests that salvation is not about what we do, but about what Christ has already done. How does this differ from popular ideas about earning spiritual merit?The sermon argues that Jesus’s statement is both exclusive and inclusive. What do you think this means, and how might this perspective challenge or comfort you? Little Learners’ Table Talk:

In the Bible story, Jesus tells his friends not to be worried. What are some things that sometimes make you feel scared or worried? How might Jesus help you feel brave?How do you think Jesus shows love? Can you draw a picture of how Jesus might help someone who is feeling sad or lost? The post The Way, the Truth, and the Life appeared first on Manchester Church of Christ.

The Resurrection and the Life

To kick off the new year, we’ve been asking the question: Who is Jesus? We’ve been attempting to answer that question by looking at the words of Jesus himself, specifically the seven “I AM” statements he makes in John’s Gospel. In John 11, Jesus reveals a profound spiritual truth through Lazarus’s resurrection. When Jesus calls Lazarus from the tomb, his first command is not a celebration, but to remove the burial clothes—a powerful symbol of spiritual transformation. “I am the resurrection and the life,” Jesus declares, demonstrating that true life requires stripping away what once bound us. Just as Lazarus emerged from death wrapped in grave clothes, we are called to shed the burial garments of our past—sin, shame, and spiritual death. These burial clothes represent more than physical wrappings. They symbolize the patterns, habits, and mindsets that keep us trapped in spiritual darkness. Jesus offers liberation, inviting us to be completely unbound, to step into new life fully and freely. The resurrection of Lazarus becomes a living parable of spiritual rebirth. His emergence from the tomb, stripped of death’s garments, illustrates the transformative power of Christ. In fact, Lazarus’s resurrection is a foreshadowing of our own experience of new life through baptism. We are not meant to remain wrapped in the grave clothes of our old life, but to be completely renewed. This narrative challenges us to examine our own “burial clothing”—the sins, doubts, and past failures that continue to constrain us. Christ calls us to cast off these garments, to embrace the new life he offers. Our spiritual journey is about continuous transformation—dying to our old self and being raised to a new life in Christ, leaving behind everything that once held us captive.

Caleb McCaughan, Pulpit Minister

Dinner Table Conversations:

Adult & Teen Table Talk:

How do you respond when God’s timing doesn’t match your expectations?What “burial clothes” (habits or past mistakes) are you struggling to let go of?In what areas of your life do you need resurrection power or transformation? Little Learners’ Table Talk:

What does it mean to be a good friend when someone is feeling sad?Can you describe a time when someone helped you when you felt stuck or afraid? The post The Resurrection and the Life appeared first on Manchester Church of Christ.

The Gate and the Good Shepherd

In John 10, Jesus presents two profound metaphors that illuminate His role in our relationship with God and His care for His people. When Jesus declares “I am the gate for the sheep” and “I am the good shepherd,” He reveals essential truths about His identity and mission. In ancient Middle Eastern shepherding, the shepherd would often sleep in the gateway of the pen, physically becoming the “gate” that protected the sheep from predators and thieves. Similarly, Jesus says, “I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture” (John 10:9). This powerful image shows that Jesus is not merely a teacher pointing the way to salvation – He is the way itself. Through Him alone can we enter into relationship with God and experience the abundant life He promises. The metaphor deepens as Jesus declares, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep” (John 10:11). Unlike hired hands who flee at the first sign of danger, Jesus demonstrates His complete commitment to our wellbeing through His sacrificial death on the cross. He knows each of us intimately, just as a shepherd knows every sheep in his flock. “I know my sheep and my sheep know me – just as the Father knows me and I know the Father” (John 10:14-15). This passage reminds us that in our world full of competing voices and false promises, Jesus offers authentic leadership and genuine care. He not only guides us but also protects us, provides for us, and ultimately gave His life for us. As members of His flock, we can trust in His faithful protection and rest in the assurance that He leads us toward eternal life in perfect fellowship with God.

Caleb McCaughan, Pulpit Minister

Dinner Table Conversations:

Adult & Teen Table Talk:

Jesus uses the images of a gate and a shepherd to describe Himself. What do these two metaphors reveal about different aspects of His character and role? How do they complement each other?The passage emphasizes the shepherd’s protective role. In what areas of your life do you most need to trust Jesus’ protection right now? What makes this trust difficult sometimes?The shepherd is willing to lay down his life for the sheep. Beyond Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, how can this sacrificial love be a model for our relationships with others? Little Learners’ Table Talk:

Jesus says He’s like a shepherd. What does a shepherd do? What animals does a shepherd take care of?If Jesus is our shepherd, what does that make us? How are we like sheep who need someone to take care of us? The post The Gate and the Good Shepherd appeared first on Manchester Church of Christ.

The Light of the World; Who Is Jesus, lesson 2

I have a confession to make. Truthfully, I can only type these words because neither of my sons can read them; they still think that their dad is completely fearless and brave. Yet, that’s just not true because… I am afraid of the dark. I always have been, and I expect I always will be. As a kid, I of course had a nightlight in my bedroom to penetrate the darkness. When I became a pre-teen and teenager, I graduated to having a TV in my bedroom on at all hours replaying the same movie over and over (I’d even get up once or twice to rewind the VHS tape so I could always have my companion of color and sound). Even now as an adult, I don’t like absolute darkness if I can avoid it. I suppose this is a natural human instinct. After all, it’s been this way since the first pages of Scripture. In fact, the first recorded words of God occur after surveying the earth and seeing that it was covered in darkness: “Let there be light” (Gen. 1:3). Throughout the pages of the Bible, there is an ever-present contrast between light and darkness. Light is characterized as good, a symbol of righteousness, and an attribute of God. Meanwhile, darkness is used to describe the ways of Satan, sin, and evil. Further, light is often used to describe the person and work of Jesus Christ, as seen in the first few verses of John’s Gospel: “The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it” (John 1:4-5). As we look at the second “I AM” statement that Jesus makes, we’ll learn why Jesus is the light of the world and why that’s important today.

Dinner Table Conversations:

Adult & Teen Table Talk:

Jesus makes a powerful “I AM” statement in this passage. How does this understanding of Jesus’s identity impact your faith and how you live your life?How can we support each other in overcoming spiritual pollution and walking in the light of Christ? What role does the church community play in this process?What does the promise of eternal life in the presence of God offer you hope and encouragement in your daily life? How does this hope motivate you to live differently? Little Learners’ Table Talk:

What does it mean to be afraid of the dark?How does a light help us see things better? How is Jesus like a light? Caleb McCaughan, Preaching Minister

The Light of the World; Who Is Jesus, lesson 2

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As we begin 2025, many are seeking new beginnings in their faith journey, or a desire to rediscover faith, and are asking fundamental questions about Jesus. What better way to learn about Jesus than from Jesus himself. We’ll do so by diving into the seven “I am” accounts in the Gospel of John. This week’s message explores a powerful encounter from John 6, where Jesus declares “I am the bread of life.” The story begins after Jesus miraculously fed 5,000 people. When the crowd tracked Him down the next day, Jesus revealed their true motives – they wanted more physical bread rather than spiritual nourishment. They were more concerned about having full bellies than have something everlasting. This led to a fundamental teaching about faith and eternal life. Jesus challenged their understanding by comparing Himself to the manna their ancestors ate in the wilderness. While that bread sustained physical life temporarily, Jesus offered something greater – spiritual bread that leads to eternal life. He declared, “I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread he will live forever.” This declaration points to deeper truths we celebrate in communion. When we take the bread and cup, we’re not just remembering a historical event – we’re expressing our complete dependence on Christ for spiritual life. Just as we need physical food for sustenance, we need Jesus for our spiritual nourishment and eternal life. Are you feeling spiritually hungry today? Jesus offers himself as the bread of life – the only one who can truly satisfy our deepest longings. Through faith in Him, we can experience new life and eternal satisfaction.

Dinner Table Conversations:

Adult & Teen Table Talk:

Why do you think the crowd was more interested in physical bread than spiritual nourishment? How might we show similar priorities today?The crowd asked for a sign right after witnessing Jesus feed 5,000 people. What prevents us from recognizing God’s work in our lives?How does taking communion help us understand Jesus as the “Bread of Life”? Little Learners’ Table Talk:

Why do we need food to live? How does Jesus help us live forever?The people followed Jesus because they wanted more bread. What makes you want to follow Jesus? Caleb McCaughan, Preaching Minister

Who Is Jesus? – The Bread of Life

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Where Are We Going?

It’s hard to believe that we’ve come to the end of 2024 and I suppose many of you have begun to think about your New Year’s resolutions. I’m not very fond of making resolutions because I usually find that the new year never unfolds quite the way I expected it to, either good or bad. I have to adjust my expectations accordingly. Often, we look forward to the new year because it means change is around the corner. Other times, the uncertainty of the new year leaves us feeling anxious and uneasy. And sometimes, we are both excited and nervous about what may or may not come. Incredibly, and I know this may be hard to believe, we are not the first to wrestle with this tangle of emotions.

The Israelites faced this when Moses, their leader for forty years, died and passed the mantle to Joshua. Despite God’s promises and Joshua’s proven track record, they likely wondered: Could anyone truly replace Moses? Will they still make it to the Promised Land? The disciples experienced similar fears after Jesus’ crucifixion. Their teacher, friend, and Messiah was gone. Though Jesus had spoken of his resurrection, in those dark hours between Friday and Sunday, they huddled in confusion and fear, questioning what had become of their mission.

As we enter 2025, many of us share these same human concerns. Will this year bring success or struggle? How will we handle upcoming transitions? What does God have planned? Yet, both biblical accounts above remind us of God’s faithfulness. While we may not see the full picture, we can trust that He who guided the Israelites and turned the disciples’ sorrow into joy continues to lead us today. This Sunday, we’ll look back to see where we (the people of God) have been to know where we’re going.

Dinner Table Conversations:

Adult & Teen Table Talk:

When have you experienced these mixed emotions about an upcoming transition? What about God or in Scripture has helped you navigate those feelings?Compare the Israelites’ situation with Moses/Joshua to the disciples’ experience after Jesus’ death. How were their emotional and spiritual challenges similar or different?As you think about major life transitions ahead (college, career, relationships), how does knowing God guided others through change affect your outlook? Little Learners’ Table Talk:

How do you feel when something changes, like getting a new teacher? What helps you feel better?The disciples were scared when Jesus went away. When do you feel scared? What makes you feel safe again? Caleb McCaughan, Preaching Minister

Where Are We Going?

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Outsiders: A Christmas Story: The Unlikely Family of God

When we peer into Matthew’s account of Jesus’ birth, we find ourselves looking at what appears to be a badly composed family photograph. The subjects seem out of place – a young carpenter wrestling with doubt, his pregnant fiancée whose child isn’t his, wise men from distant lands practicing forbidden arts, and a paranoid puppet king burning with jealousy. This is hardly the dignified path we might expect for God’s entrance into our world. Yet this is precisely how God chose to work. He deliberately arranged these unlikely figures into His family portrait, just as He had woven together the tapestry of Jesus’ ancestry with threads that might make us blush – Tamar’s deception, Rahab’s profession, the aftermath of David’s great sin. In Bethlehem’s story, we see God’s signature way of working – not through the powerful and polished, but through the unlikely and unprepared. Joseph, fighting his instinct to divorce Mary quietly, instead embraces God’s larger story. Pagan wise men bow before a Jewish infant, their forbidden star-reading somehow transformed into true worship. Even Herod’s murderous rage becomes the dark backdrop that pushes the holy family toward Egypt, fulfilling ancient prophecies. This is more than history; it’s an invitation. The same God who orchestrated this unlikely nativity continues to craft surprising family portraits today. He’s still gathering outsiders, still redeeming broken stories, still working through despair and doubts and detours. The infant child grew into the crucified and risen Lord, and through Him, we too are welcomed into this beautifully unexpected family of God. Perhaps you feel as out of place as a Gentile astrologer in Jerusalem. Take heart – you’re in good company. This is exactly the kind of family God has been building since Bethlehem.

Caleb McCaughan, Preaching Minister

The Unlikely Family of God:Outsiders: A Christmas Story

Dinner Table Conversations:

Adult & Teen Table Talk:

Matthew’s account shows how God worked through messy family situations and imperfect people throughout Jesus’ lineage. How does this reality encourage you when you feel inadequate or when your family situation is complicated?The wise men were religious outsiders who God used to honor Jesus and protect Him from Herod. Can you think of a time when God worked through an unexpected person or circumstance in your life? What did that teach you about how God works?The wise men brought valuable gifts to honor Jesus at great personal risk and effort. What does it look like in your daily life to bring your best to Jesus? What “gifts” (talents, time, resources) might God ask you to offer Him, even when it’s costly? Little Learners’ Table Talk:

The wise men followed a bright star to find Jesus. What helps you find and learn about Jesus today?In the story, God used all kinds of different people – Mary and Joseph, the wise men from far away, and even the star in the sky! How do you think God might use you to help others learn about Jesus? The post The Unlikely Family of God appeared first on Manchester Church of Christ.

What are your spiritual gifts? How is God using your spiritual gifts to serve His church? Are you serving in ministry areas that benefit from your unique spiritual gifts? In Paul’s letter to the church in Corinth, he provides instructions regarding spiritual gifts:

“There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all. There are different kinds of ministries, but we serve the same Lord. God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us.” (1 Corinthians 12:4-6)

According to scripture, the Spirit of God dwells in those who have been baptized into Christ, our Lord and Savior (1 Corinthians 12:13 and 3:16). It is a gift from God “for in Him we live and move and have our being” (Acts 17:28). Paul instructs Christians to understand how God has given His Holy Spirit to work within and through them so that we can help one another, and God has given different people different gifts that are needed for the Gospel to spread. As an outpouring of love towards God and his people, Paul says he will “show you a more excellent way” in his commitment and service as an example, and we are to do the same. Repeatedly, scripture commands Christians to use their spiritual gifts in the various ministries of the church. The beauty of the church is we do not all have the same gifts. There is no benefit in comparing gifts, but the blessing is how we use our gifts to glorify God and His Kingdom. What ministry areas would benefit from your involvement and spiritual gifts? Find your gift and give it away!

André McMillian, Elder

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Uriah’s Wife: Outsiders: A Christmas Story, part 3

We’re getting closer, day by day, to celebrating Christmas and the birth of Jesus Christ. Over the past several weeks, we’ve been looking at the stories of the “scandalous women” found in Matthew’s genealogy. Tamar. Rahab. Now, Uriah’s Wife. This isn’t a story for the faint of heart or those who want to sanitize every biblical account. This is about how God doesn’t avoid our disasters—He transforms them. David. A man after God’s own heart? Undoubtedly. But also a man capable of spectacular moral collapse. One lazy afternoon, desire trumps integrity. He sees Bathsheba. He wants. He takes. He destroys. Uriah—a faithful soldier—becomes collateral damage in the king’s tsunami of selfishness.

But God.

Those two words change everything. Where human sin looks like a dead end, God sees a doorway. The very mess David creates becomes the pathway through which the Messiah will eventually arrive. This isn’t neat. This isn’t clean. This is raw, unfiltered redemption. Bathsheba, a woman wounded by royal abuse, becomes part of the most important genealogy in human history. Solomon—born from this complicated beginning—will carry the genetic thread that, generations later, leads directly to Jesus. Think about that. The Savior of the world emerges from a family tree twisted with adultery, murder, and complicated relationships. God doesn’t airbrush history. He redeems it. Your worst moment? Your greatest shame? These are not stop signs for God. They’re construction sites where mercy is building something magnificent. The cross proves it. God specializes in resurrection—taking what looks dead, broken, hopeless, and breathing new life. He doesn’t just forgive your mess. He uses it. Your story isn’t over. Not by a long shot. That’s the beauty of Christmas.

Dinner Table Conversations:

Adult & Teen Table Talk:

God frequently works in ways that defy human logic—using a complicated, messy relationship to advance His divine plan. Share a time when God’s method of working in your life was completely unexpected.Despite David’s significant moral failure, he’s still described as “a man after God’s own heart.” How does this challenge your understanding of God’s grace? What does this reveal about the nature of God’s love?Bathsheba could have been permanently defined by this traumatic experience. Instead, she became an important figure in God’s redemptive story. How can we help people move from shame to restoration? Little Learners’ Table Talk:

How can we help our friends when they make mistakes? What does it mean to be a good friend?God’s love is bigger than any mistake we can make. Draw a picture of what you think God’s big love looks like! Caleb McCaughan, Pulpit Minister

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They’ll Know Us by Love; Kingdom Values, pt. 5

In the wake of this week’s election results, our church community and country are navigating an immense range of emotions. While the democratic process has run its course, we must remember that no candidate, Republican or Democrat, will ever truly work solely for the good of God’s kingdom. Please read my words clearly: this is not an attempt to “Spiritually Wash” the significance of current events or our emotions. Our political convictions are important and our role in the political system matters. So please do not accuse me of being a reductionist. However, we must intentionally examine what lens we see the world through. As followers of Christ, our allegiance lies not with any earthly party, but with the eternal kingdom of God. This calls us to a different set of values – values modeled by Jesus himself. Through confession, devotion, resistance, peacemaking, hospitality, and service, we strive to embody the upside-down kingdom where the last are first and the greatest are the servants of all. Like James and John, we may be tempted to jockey for positions of power, status, and influence. But Jesus reminds us that true greatness is found in sacrificial service. It is only through Christ’s own act of ransom that we are empowered to serve in world-changing ways. Whether assisting with the upcoming youth rally, volunteering at local food banks, being a good neighbor, or “adopting” another church family, we are called to be the hands and feet of Jesus in our community. In this divisive time, may the watching world see Christ’s love shining through us. For it is by our love for one another that they will know we are his disciples.

Dinner Table Conversation:

Adult Table Talk:

What does it mean for the church to embody an “upside-down kingdom”? How does this challenge our natural human inclinations?The sermon mentions “adopting” another church family. What might that look like in practical terms, and how could it foster deeper community and service? Teen Table Talk:

Why do you think James and John wanted to sit at the places of highest honor next to Jesus? What does this reveal about human nature?What are some practical ways you could regularly serve others, either in the church or local community? How might this shape your character and faith? Little Learners’ Table Talk:

Jesus said the greatest person is the one who helps others. What are some ways you could help your family, friends, or people in need?How can we show God’s love to people who are different from us, even if they believe different things? —

Caleb McCaughan, Pulpit Minister | Manchester Church of Christ

Schedule to meet with me here!

Kingdom Values, part 5: They’ll Know Us by Love

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Together at the Table, Kingdom Values

In the world of sports, legendary rivals Larry Bird and Magic Johnson transformed their competitive relationship through an unexpected act of hospitality. During a 1985 Converse commercial shoot, Bird invited Magic to lunch, and something remarkable happened—they got to know each other beyond the basketball court. This simple meal mirrors a profound spiritual truth: hospitality has the power to break down walls and reveal our shared humanity as those bearing the image of God. Biblical hospitality goes far beyond polite entertaining. It’s a radical act of kingdom living that recognizes every person as a child of God. In Luke’s Gospel, we see Jesus exemplify this through his encounter with Zacchaeus, a despised tax collector. Despite community criticism, Jesus saw Zacchaeus’s true worth, transforming his life through a simple invitation to share a meal. Our modern world often encourages division. Social media platforms can become battlegrounds of harsh commentary and quick judgments. These realities are only amplified by the election season that we find ourselves in. We are so quick to declare each other the enemy and to attack accordingly. But the Christian calling is different. We’re invited to practice radical hospitality—to welcome “the other,” to listen before speaking, to see people through God’s eyes. What might change if we replaced online arguments with dinner conversations? What barriers could crumble if we truly practiced Jesus-style hospitality? Ask yourself: Who might you invite to your table? How can you create space for genuine connection? Where can you practice peace by welcoming those who disagree with you? Hospitality isn’t just about food or providing bedding for a weary traveler—it’s about recognizing the sacred worth of every person God brings into our path.

Dinner Table Conversations:

Adult Table Talk:

How can we practice biblical hospitality as a form of peacemaking in our current cultural and political climate?In what ways might social media be preventing genuine connection, and how can we intentionally create spaces for real dialogue? Teen Table Talk:

How do you think Jesus would approach social media interactions differently?What barriers do you see in your school or community that hospitality might help break down? Little Learners’ Table Talk:

Can you tell me about a time you made a new friend?Who is someone new you could be extra nice to this week? Caleb McCaughan, Pulpit Minister | Manchester Church of Christ – Schedule a meeting with me here!

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Kingdom Values, part 4: Why Do We Settle for Mediocre Peace?

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God” (Matthew 5:9). In these simple yet profound words, Jesus sets forth a fundamental characteristic of those who follow Him – we are called to be peacemakers in a world often defined by conflict, in an election season that is marked by division and bitterness. But what exactly does it mean to be a peacemaker? After all, isn’t (almost) everyone for peace? Perhaps the question we need to ask is: how are the people of God supposed to go about pursuing peace? Jesus elaborates in Matthew 5:38-48, challenging our natural instincts with His teachings. Instead of “an eye for an eye,” He calls us to turn the other cheek. Rather than loving only those who love us, we’re instructed to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. This isn’t passive acceptance of wrongdoing, but an active choice to break the cycle of retaliation. When we choose to respond to hostility with kindness, to hatred with love, we reflect the character of our heavenly Father, who “causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.” Being a peacemaker means taking the first step toward reconciliation, even when we’re not at fault. It means seeking understanding instead of winning arguments. It means choosing forgiveness over resentment, and mercy over judgment. In our country during this election season, we have daily opportunities to be peacemakers. Each time we choose love over hatred, understanding over judgment, and reconciliation over division, we don’t just make peace – we demonstrate our identity as children of God. May we embrace this challenging but blessed calling, striving to be perfect in love, just as our heavenly Father is perfect.

Caleb McCaughan – Pulpit Minister | Manchester Church of Christ

Schedule a meeting with me here!

Why Do We Settle for Mediocre Peace? – session 4 in the Kingdom Values Series

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Beyond the Screen: Cultivating a Christ-Centered Worldview

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (the best of all Star Wars movies) sets the stage for the original trilogy. In a far, far away galaxy ruled by the evil Empire, a group of rebels are willing to risk their lives to ensure a message is spread far and wide that there is another way of life. Their message is, of course, one of hope, but it is also one that says the galaxy needs to resist the message of Empire, that there is a better way and future. In many ways, this is the task of Christians today. We are to spread the good news of Jesus Christ and proclaim that there is another, better way to live. The gospel is to be the message that shapes our lives and how we think, not the message of Satan or any of the empires that have come and gone, exist today or will rise in the future. In Romans 12:2, Paul says to “not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.” In essence, Paul is saying that we need to resist the message of the predominant culture around us and instead be transformed by Jesus Christ. The first-century Christians weren’t supposed to think or behave like any other Roman citizen but were to be “ambassadors for Christ” (2 Cor. 5:20). In this election season, we need to be adamant that we are not being conformed to the political ideologies of our nation’s parties, leaders, or news networks. Rather, as we continually confess Jesus as Lord and create practices that remind us of our devotion to Him, we will be transformed into His image.

Caleb McCaughan – Pulpit Minister | Manchester Church of Christ

Schedule a meeting with me here!

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Rule of Life: Kingdom Values, part 2

We are in our second week of the series Kingdom Values and the principle we are focusing on this Sunday is devotion. The way we use the word “devotion” in church circles may be different than how our non-Christian friends use it, so what exactly do we mean by that? By devotion, we mean that we will live a life that seeks after God and His kingdom first. In our fast-paced world, it’s easy to get caught up in the constant hustle and bustle of life. In this season of our country, we worry about the upcoming elections and their ramifications, as well as our jobs, our finances, our relationships, and our future. Everything is clamoring for our attention. But in Matthew 6:25-34, Jesus reminds us that our focus should be on God first and foremost. When we seek God’s kingdom and His righteousness above all else, He will provide for our needs. We don’t need to worry about tomorrow because God will take care of us. Yet, that is so much easier said than done. We are constantly being told that we need to prioritize this movement or ideology, that career or group of people above everything else. In short, every single aspect of life is trying to shape us into a specific kind of person. Too often, we let this passively happen to us and, in the same way, we expect spiritual growth to just happen. If we are going to be a people devoted to Christ, we to structure our life and take practical actions that help form us after Him. Let us commit to being devoted to God and trusting in His plan for our lives.

Caleb McCaughan,

Pulpit Minister | Manchester Church of Christ Schedule a meeting with me here!

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Confessional Clothing, Kingdom Values, lesson 1

I want to say thank you for all the prayers, support, and meals that you all have provided my family over the past month. It was wonderful getting to spend some time bonding together as a family of four. So, again, from myself, Taylor, Axel, and Luca, thank you! Now, with the “pleasantries” out of the way, we can get straight to business. It’s no secret that we’ve fully entered election season. Presidential and VP debates are occurring, yard signs and bumper stickers are beginning to proliferate, and there is an underlying tension in the air that you can feel as we inch closer to November 5th. While this is an important time politically for our country, it also should not be a surprise that this season is crucial to our witness for the Kingdom of God over the coming weeks, months, and years. According to a research survey by the Barna Group in May 2023, the number one reason that people of other faiths and of no faith doubt Christianity is due to “the hypocrisy of religious people.” Non-Christians (and even those within the church such as our friends, children, and grandchildren) are watching closely how we conduct ourselves. While we can certainly have our political convictions, those convictions should not compromise our positions as “ambassadors for Christ” (2 Cor. 5:20). Over the next several weeks, we’ll be looking at several different values from Scripture that, if we purposely apply them, will make sure we are a good representation of Jesus and his church. My prayer is that even during a tension-filled election season, our actions and character will help spread the sweet “fragrance of Christ” (2 Cor. 2:15).

Caleb McCaughan – Pulpit Minister | Manchester Church of Christ

Kingdom Values, lesson 1: Confessional Clothing

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Leadhership The Call to Lead Protect and Love

Men, God has called you to be the leader, protector, and lover in your home, reflecting Christ’s love and sacrifice. This calling isn’t just a title; it’s a daily commitment to actively guide your family. Are you taking responsibility for your household, or have you been passive, letting work, hobbies, or distractions take the wheel? When was the last time you prayed for your wife, sought God’s guidance together, or opened the Bible as a family? Are you leading your children toward Christ, teaching them to honor God, or are they learning about faith from someone else?

Consider your role as a husband: Are you pursuing your wife’s heart, showing her the love, honor, and respect she deserves? Are you speaking life into her, encouraging her with your words, or have you allowed routine and complacency to take over?

God didn’t call us to lead in isolation or on our strength. He calls us to lead like Christ—selflessly, courageously, and with a heart fully surrendered to Him. Today, I challenge you to examine your leadership at home. Are you truly reflecting God’s love and leadership in every area of your life? Let’s commit to stepping up, embracing LeadHerShip, and honoring God by leading our families well.

—

Malik S. Champlain

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Are You Growing?

If I can give a shoutout to my wife. One of the many reasons I love my wife is because of her I have health insurance (Amen Somebody!) I had a doctor’s appointment this week and while I was there, we went over the usual checklist/routines for my checkup. I took an eye test, and my eyes are struggling but they still work. My blood pressure was good, I was not sick, and my shots were up to date overall I am pretty healthy. Not that everything needs to be turned into a sermon, but it got me thinking. One of the reasons I loved going to the doctor when I was younger is because I loved to compare my height and weight from the previous visit. I loved to see that I was growing. Truthfully, I’m not as excited to see how I have been growing as I get older. Sometimes when I go to the doctor now no growth has occurred. I find it interesting that this has a lot of parallels to our spiritual life. When we are fresh out of the water and a babe in Christ it seems like we are growing rapidly. But as life continues, we really don’t seem to track our spiritual growth. If we’re being honest sometimes we are not growing spiritually at all. We may be attending worship services or be at bible class, but those gatherings don’t necessarily equate to successful spiritual growth and maturation. This Lord’s Day I don’t want to talk about how to grow spiritually. I want to focus on “If” we are growing spiritually. What does spiritual growth look like? How do you assess if you are growing spiritually? I believe we can measure our spiritual growth if we take a look at what we are “Consuming”, what we are “Producing” and if we can remain faithful to God no matter the season, he has us in.

Randall Colson, Youth Minister

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Arnie Holmes is a former preaching minister at the Manchester church of Christ. He worked with the church for nearly 18 years and has recently relocated back to the northeast.

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Knowing God: Lead Me to Rest

We’ve talked a lot in recent weeks about knowing God and meditating on his teachings. This is crucial to our spiritual formation so that we don’t fall into the cultural trap of Deism. If you’re not familiar with the concept of Deism, it is the belief in the existence of God, but he does not intervene in or is personally involved in the world or our lives. Held by a few of our nation’s founding fathers, this deistic perspective of God is very much a core part of our cultural DNA. Yet, we do not serve a God who set the world spinning and just watches it spin, nor does God sit high up in a tower peering down on the world through his binoculars not wanting to dirty himself with the mess. No, we serve a God who is personally involved in the world and in our lives, one who calls us his flock and he, our Shepherd. This week we’ll be walking through the most famous Psalm of all time, Psalm 23. As the Teacher says in Ecclesiastes, “there is nothing new under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 1:9). In the same way, I’m not sure there is anything new or revelatory that I could possibly come up that hasn’t been said about Psalm 23. Nonetheless, it’s message stands the test of time and is something we all need to be reminded of. Do we truly know God as our shepherd and not as a removed mystical figure? Are we willing to let him guide us and not our own understanding? Are we willing to let him protect us so that we can dwell in his presence for the rest of our days?

Caleb McCaughan, Preaching Minister

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Knowing God: Where Do We Plant Our Roots

“He is like a tree planted beside flowing streams that bears its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither” (Psalm 1:3a, CSB). Intimacy is such a crucial part of what it means to be human. When God created man, he deemed that it was not good for man to be alone. We are meant to live in relationship with one another, person to person. We are also meant to live in relationship with our Heavenly Father, destined to spend morning walks in the garden with God. Yet, there are times when it seems impossible to know God, as if there has been a chasm placed between us that we cannot possibly cross. If we’re not careful, we can fall into a state of deism where God is far off and removed, relegated to the background of everyday life. Like a friend we’ve gradually lost touch with, we have a sense that there should be something more to our relationship with God but we’re not even sure where to start. How do we truly come to know God intimately, either for the first time or again? Lord (and baby) willing, we’ll wrestle with this question as we walk through Psalm 1. We’ll let the psalmist shape our imaginations and stir our hearts to chase after the one who made us in his image. This exploration of Psalm 1 seeks to illuminate the path toward a deeper intimacy with God by examining the challenges and promises inherent in our relationship with the divine so that we can fully know and be fully known by God.

Caleb McCaughan, Preaching Minister

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A New Life, A Journey Through 1 John

One of the fastest-growing segments in America is the group that identifies as spiritual but not religious (SBNR). Candidly, I am sympathetic to those who find themselves in this category. I can remember as a teenager coming across a popular spoken word video on YouTube titled “Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus” and the impact it had throughout my small-town Oklahoma high school, specifically in the desire to divorce Jesus from the church. Again, I am sympathetic to those who still have a desire for some spirituality but who are disenchanted with the expression of (what we now call) organized religion. That raises some questions that we all must answer: How did spirituality and religion become fragmented from one another? Why is it that we still engage with religion? What is our real motivation for participating in and attending a church? Is it out of a sense of duty to our family? Is it due to some of the (amazing) benefits that can be found, such as community, friendship, and family support? Or is it because that’s just what we do? Some in the SBNR camp believe that most churches only exist to make people feel good about themselves (which I’m sure is true in some places). But my hope and prayer for our congregation is that we come together for something so much more. We come together because, like the dry bones in Ezekiel 37, God has breathed new life into us, and we have become a transformed people with a new identity: the children of God.

Caleb McCaughan, Pulpit Minister | Manchester Church of Christ

A New Life is the latest episode in the series A Journey Through 1 John. Click here to watch/listen to previous episodes in this series.

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Ways and Means

In the seventh grade, I had to take a class called “US Government and Civics.” Truthfully, I don’t remember a whole lot from that class, but I do remember becoming oddly obsessed with The Committee of Ways and Means of the United States. If you’re not familiar with the Ways and Means committee, they are primarily responsible for figuring out how the federal government receives its revenue through taxes. They were put in place to determine the most sensible and (ideally) ethical ways and means to go about that goal. For some reason, those ideas stuck with me, and I think about it a lot in relation to faith. So much of the Christian life is about determining the proper ways and means to go about things. It’s not just good enough to have the right goal but we must reach that goal in the right way. Understanding the proper ways and means is easier when we know where we’re starting from and know where we’re going. Fortunately, Scripture provides all those details. We know that we are sinners adopted by God and have become his children (1 John 5:1) – our starting point – and that we are heading towards true fellowship with God in his kingdom (1 John 5:11) – our goal. We’ve also been given the teachings of Jesus and the rest of Scripture to know how to navigate this journey – our ways and means. But what happens when our end goal gets distorted? Or our beginning? Both drastically change the ways and means we go about life. Together, we’ll explore exactly how to get back on track and some of the reasons our ways and means get altered in the first place.

Caleb McCaughan, A Journey through 1 John

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Love from the Source

If you had to guess what the central focus of this week’s sermon is, what would you say? Did you guess love? We are now entering week four of our series through the letter of 1 John and love has been and continues to be where our attention is drawn to. After all, it makes sense as God is love (1 John 4:16) and his love for us is most revealed through his willingness to send Jesus to die on behalf of each one of us (1 John 4:9-10) and rise from the grasp of death. God’s love for us is the foundation of our walk of discipleship. Our ministry theme for the year has been Discipleship for Such a Time as This and we’ve talked about spiritual gifts, spiritual disciplines, and many other things that are crucial for our walk as Christians. As we (somehow already) enter the second half of 2024, I’m excited for us as a church to explore from the pulpit what discipleship means for us as individuals, as a congregation, and for engaging with the secular culture. Yet, we need the proper foundation laid first which is love. The two most important commands given to us are love of God and love of neighbor. Elsewhere in Scripture when Paul talks about the church being many parts but one body, gifts of the spirit, and fruit of the spirit, he begins and ends those conversations with love. So, if you’re wondering if we’re going to talk about love for the fourth straight week, that’s completely all right. I’ve asked myself that question, too. But Paul seems to think that love for God and one another is important, as does John, and most significantly, so does Jesus. Let us continue to labor in love together.

–Caleb McCaughan, A Journey Through 1 John

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Of Abel and Cain

We live in deeply divisive times fueled by mistrust and hatred. The attempted assassination of former President Trump last week only proves this, and we can be thankful that he survived and did not further escalate the tension in our country to a potential point of no return. However, we also mourn those who were injured and the death of Corey Comperatore. I don’t know much about Mr. Comperatore other than what the various news outlets tell us. I know he was a former fire chief and his neighbors thought highly of him. I also know that as the bullets rang out, Corey Comperatore sacrificed his life and threw his body in front of his wife and daughter to protect them from harm.

I have a friend who was at the 2017 music festival in Las Vegas when the deadliest mass shooting in US history occurred. I can remember him telling the story that when he heard the first of the over 1,000 bullets fired towards the crowd, all he could think to do was to throw his body over his wife to protect her. When Mark tells the story of him and Paula trying to navigate out of the stands to safety, seeing the carnage and chaos, I’m overwhelmed by emotion for him and all the other families impacted by that dreadful night in Vegas.

All week I’ve only been able to dwell on this verse: “This is how we have come to know love: He laid down his life for us. We should also lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters” (1 John 3:16). I’m thankful that Mark and Paula are still here and that I can continue to cherish their friendship. I’m thankful for the sacrificial love of Corey Comperatore and continue to grieve for his family. Lord, this world needs your peace, justice, and love. May it come soon.

Caleb McCaughan

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Tolerance to Triumph Love’s Upheaval from the series, A Journey Through 1 John

When you hear the word “tolerate,” what exactly do you think of? Maybe you think of an openness and respectfulness to those who differ from you, whether that’s religiously, politically, etc. For others, you might think of the human body’s ability to tolerate pain or to resist the effects of certain medicines. I tend to think of tolerance as the act of putting up with something that I’m not fond of. Whether it’s meat sauce on spaghetti, a rain delay amidst a baseball game, or the barista at the coffee shop who routinely messes up my order, these are all things or people that I put up with. I don’t dislike them per se or think they are an inherently bad thing or person; I just tolerate them. In a lot of cases that isn’t a bad thing. But what about when it comes to the church? More specifically, what about when it comes to the disciples of Christ that we call our brothers and sisters? Should we just put up with those who we don’t agree with (or even like)? In the letter of 1 John, we are told that “we should be called God’s children” (3:1) and that as God’s children, we have a simple test that is set before us: will we love our fellow Christians (3:10)? And how exactly do we move from simply tolerating some of our brothers and sisters to genuinely loving them in word and deed? My prayer is that we will wrestle with this together, for “the one who loves his brother or sister remains in the light” (1 John 2:10).

Caleb McCaughan, Minister

Tolerance to Triumph Love’s Upheaval from the series, A Journey Through 1 John

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A Sunrise in Utqiagvik is lesson number one in the new series, A Journey Through 1 John, by Caleb McCaughan

This week we celebrated the 4th of July and honored the time since the United States of America declared its independence. I can’t help but think of the famous words etched now 248 years ago as a new nation set out to pursue “Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.” That is, as a nation and people free to pursue the good life. Of course, over our young nation’s history, there have been many peaks and valleys in pursuit of this good life and it is still a journey that is and will continue to be a work-in-progress. Nonetheless, we pursue and chase after this freedom undeterred by the challenges ahead. It reminds me of the greatest act of redemption and liberation that occurred 2,000 years ago. “For freedom, Christ set us free” (Galatians 5:1) through his death and his resurrection. We now stand ready, each of us, to pursue the good life with God. Our independence from sin and the grasp of the evil one has been declared and we know that the battle has already been won. And now, we pursue as the people of God a “long obedience in the same direction” as we walk the path of discipleship together. There have been and will be times in our Christian walk when we will be on the mountaintop. There have been and will be times when we are stuck in the valley and can’t seem to find our way, where the darkness begins to settle. But we know that the light always shines through. To God be the glory. Amen.

Caleb McCaughan, Minister

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“FATHERS, HEIRS of GOD, and CO-HEIRS with CHRIST”

Fathers fail in their responsibilities to their families far too often. We are human, we are not perfect. Think of fathers in Scripture. Think of Samuel, the last judge over Israel, who appointed his sons to be judges who were spiritually unqualified in (1 Samuel 8:1-5). David is notorious for failing as a father. Jacob played favorites with his sons.

“A search of Scripture turns up one rather surprising truth: there are no exemplary families [that show us a father, mother, and children], portrayed in a way that evokes admiration. There are many family stories, there is considerable reference to family life, and there is sound counsel to guide the family, but not one model family is given for anyone to look up to in either awe or envy.

The biblical material consistently portrays the family, not as a Norman Rockwell painting around a Thanksgiving turkey, but as a series of broken relationships in need of redemption.”

Eugene H. Peterson, Like Dew Your Youth.

Sound depressing? It would be if that was just the way it has to be. It would be if leading our families in righteousness depended on us alone.

The truth is, it does not depend on us alone!

14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. 15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba Father.” 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

Romans 8:14-17

Scott Stafford – Elder

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Old and New School

Our high school seniors are graduating! This is a joyous time for celebration, I want to congratulate Jadyn Barber, Gabriel McMillian, Daydrianna Matos, Cyrus Nash, Cece Johnson, Chase Goulet, Kiera Stewart, Ben Belair, Andrew Szemrylo each of them has made so many accomplishments and achievements. The Manchester church of Christ family is so proud to witness our graduates grow and mature. As I stated in sermons prior this is not the end, this is only the beginning and God is going to do some amazing things in each one of their lives. God’s timing is perfect, last year for the baccalaureate I was able to preach a message to 2023’s graduating seniors “What is Your Why” My goal that Sunday was to stress the importance of walking in/finding your purpose. This Sunday morning allow me to share a message “Class is in Session” I want to take a deep dive into 1 Samuel 3: 1-11. In this passage we are introduced to a young man named Samuel, he is being called by the Lord. The Lord is literally calling Samuel by name, thankfully Eli the high priest has been mentoring Samuel all his life and we are able to witness how through the wisdom of Eli, Samuel is able to answer the call of God over his life. Naturally, we like to focus our attention on the young man Samuel, but I would argue we should pay more attention to Eli. I believe there are some crucial life lessons we can learn from the life of Eli. Many times, when we talk about generations, we as humans tend to separate the times, compare, overlook and even look down on the older folk or the young people. But get ready “old school” and get ready “new school” class is in session. We serve a God of unity. We all need each other and each one of us is a valued member of the body of Christ. Let’s see how the word of God can unify our generational differences and lead to success and growth for the kingdom of God.

Randall Colson, minister Manchester church of Christ

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The Secrets of Service

Growing up in the church was the biggest blessing in my life, a lot of the life lessons I learned, I still remember to this very day. Even though I grew up in church, when it came to being part of a new church family in college I struggled. I wasn’t an active member; I was just an attending member. Though my attendance was perfect on Wednesdays and Sundays. Or I had my bible in hand with a full three-piece suit. I looked the part and was in a position to grow however, spiritually I was stuck. I found myself putting so much value on the minister and his sermons or the worship leader and the songs. I would go to church looking to be encouraged and leave feeling just as empty as when I first walked in. My father told me the key to my spiritual success lay in my transformation from being an attending member of the church to becoming an active member of the church family. Like a true college-aged adolescent, I didn’t listen to him but, he was right. Even though we don’t talk about it as much as we need to, serving is a pivotal part of our Christian walk. Jesus challenges all his disciples if they want to be great, they need to be servants. He displays true servanthood in the text that we will cover today in John 13:1-17. By washing his disciple’s feet, he gives an example for all of us to follow. That no matter how holy we think we are, no matter how big we think our bible is or how many zeros we have in the bank account we all need to serve. Today we will cover the most important portion of serving which is having the right heart posture. Serving is not about who is deserving, our commission is love and we should serve where we are needed not always where we want.

Randall Colson, Minister, Manchester Church of Christ – The Secrets of Service

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Wishing or Praying?

Worshipping God is the great essential of fitness. If you have not been worshipping…when you get to work you will not only be useless yourself, but a tremendous hindrance to those who are associated with you. ~ Oswald Chambers

When you consider the ways God has sustained you in your walk with Him, do you remember intimate moments of prayer with Him?

It’s easy to use the term “wish” in the sense that you are hopeful for a specific outcome. Sometimes, Christians are guilty of spending more time wishing rather than praying for a specific outcome. Of course, no harm is intended by the use of the phrase. However, when we give serious matters our time and attention, simply wishing something to be the case is ineffective. What if every time you and I said “I wish (fill in the blank)” we instead chose to pray about that thing? This might cause us to consider how serious the matters we usually wish about really are when we bring them before the throne of the Almighty. Praying for someone’s heart to soften to the Word of God is significantly more effective than wishing it were so. Praying that you were a better student of God’s Word, communicator, friend, confidant, etc. is more therapeutic and effective than wishing it were so. Imagine how much more praying we can do!

As you talk with others this week, pay attention to how often that word “wish” is used, and how often you catch yourself using it. In those times, offer to pray about that thing being wished for with someone else. Stop and pray, even if the prayer itself is merely 10 seconds long. Prayer can change the world.

Scriptures to consider: (John 14:13-14) (Romans 12:12) (James 5:16) (1Chron 16:11)

Chet Duke, preaching minister candidate

Wishing or Praying? – Stand Alone Sermon Series

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You Who Are Spiritual: Dennis Saucier, AMEN Ministry Director

It has been said that “the hand that rocks the cradle rules the world.” Social scientists have observed that there is no species on this planet that takes a longer period of time to raise its young than the human species. To bring a child into the world is by far the biggest investment of time, energy and money that anyone can make. But the payoff is phenomenal! This is what the Psalmist instructed in Psalm 127, “Children are a heritage from the LORD, offspring a reward from him. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one’s youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them.” Parenting, and motherhood especially, is the only truly lasting legacy a person can make extending from generation to generation. It is not just bringing life into the world, a miracle by itself; but the experience of molding and shaping a child made in the image of God to achieve his or her fullest potential. This can come from all types of mothers, birth mothers, adopted mothers, dream mothers, step-mothers, godmothers, grandmothers, and any woman who will give of herself to guide a child. Her influence extends through all kinds of relationships to benefit society as a whole. It is no wonder that one of God’s Ten Commandments to His people is to honor your father and mother as a promise for a good and long life (Deuteronomy 5:16, Ephesians 6:1-3). As we observe Mother’s Day, we are celebrating the visible reality of unconditional love which is the definition of grace. Let’s be realistic, motherhood often experiences challenge, weariness, sacrifice and struggle all of which helps us to more clearly understand the nature of unconditional love. “These three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” 1 Corinthians 13:13

Dennis Saucier, You Who Are Spiritual (Stand Alone)

Questions for Thoughts:

What has been the most important advice your mother has given you?What traits or qualities make for a successful parent?What character traits like honesty, courage, empathy, etc. do you most appreciate in others?In what ways do you feel the closest to God?What spiritual gift do you want to share with others? See 1 Corinth. 12:4-11, 27-31 The post You Who Are Spiritual appeared first on Manchester Church of Christ.

Lesson by Anderson George, candidate for preaching minister.

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The Psychology of Discipleship 201: Shifting Gears for Growth

In scripture, the followers of Jesus are called “Disciples” 261 times and “Christians” only 3 times. Today we default to the latter of these titles, missing the growth mindset of a “disciple” or “apprentice” or “learner.” Instead of growing, we fall prey to “looking the part” (Matthew 6:1-18)and/or unhealthy mental cycles of comparisons (John 5:44). The path of discipleship is a call to embrace our position (Matthew 5:1-11) and become authentic apprentices to our gracious Savior (Titus 2:11-14). God wants us to “learn how to be with Jesus inside the contours of our everyday life – not an idealized vision of the life we wish we had, used to or plan to have, but the life we actually have. Here, now, today.” (John Mark Comer)

After attending workshops and Bible classes, how is your path of discipleship going? Perfectly? Or as the song says, do you feel “always stuck in second gear when it hasn’t been your day, your week, your month, or even your year?” We often fall into discipleship ruts when we misunderstand how spiritual formation works. We think the key to spiritual disciplines (e.g., fasting, prayer, or solitude) is to “try harder.” We expect our struggles with anger, jealousy, or lust to go away with more bible study, only to find ourselves falling into the same traps. Sometimes, we think an inspiring sermon will answer prayers and launch us to the next level of discipleship. Then Monday comes. These three formational forces – perspiration, information, and inspiration – can only take us so far. Resilient discipleship requires we move past second gear — recognizing the limitations of sermons, Bible studies, and willpower — and into the higher gears of reflective, shared practices that have formed disciples into Christlikeness for centuries.

Dr. Christopher Barclay: The Psychology of Discipleship 201: Shifting Gears for Growth

Discussion Questions

With which spiritual discipline (e.g., fasting, studying, prayer, solitude) do you feel “stuck in second gear,” like it’s not going how you envisioned?What’s your reaction to the statement that discipleship is “more like jiu-jitsu than quantum physics”? How do you believe the church assembly could be more like a dojo than a show?Describe a time you’ve found it helpful to engage in reflection (e.g., trigger study) to overcome temptation or stick with a spiritual discipline. How did noticing your personal habits help you become more Christlike?Describe a way that sharing your disciplines with someone (e.g., accountability partnership, small group) has helped you learn the ways of Jesus. How do you see “practice over perfection” at work in your spiritual life? Which spiritual discipline do you see yourself getting perfectionistic about? The post Shifting Gears for Growth appeared first on Manchester Church of Christ.

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Budget Sunday 2024

It often surprises Christians when they discover just how much the Bible talks about money. In fact there are more than 2300 verses on money, wealth, and possessions. Jesus spoke about money in 11 out of 39 parables, because he knew that money was a heart issue and that it is one of the most likely reasons for someone to not follow him or to give up on him.

“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.

Matthew 6:24

The issue is simple – whom will we serve? Will we serve God or will we serve money. Notice Jesus said you ‘cannot’ serve both. It is impossible, it is one or the other and all of us must choose.

Scott Stafford – “Sermon on the Amount”

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This is Just the Beginning

This past February some members of the youth group traveled to Winterfest in Tennessee. Winterfest is a conference with over 4,000 teens in attendance. We all had a great time fellowshipping, singing, and traveling through the book of Acts. The theme of Winterfest was “And the word of God spread” (Acts 6:7). Our Winterfest trip was a great first step in the right direction. Manchester has been a pivotal pillar for youth ministry in the northeast Churches of Christ for serval years. Today we are at a new beginning or a start to a new era of youth ministry here at the Manchester Church of Christ. John K. Jenkins Sr. said it best when he stated “before you can build an effective ministry, you must lay a firm foundation. The first step in laying that foundation is developing a clear vision and mission statement.” Our theme for the youth ministry this year is Firm Foundation (1 Corinthians 3:11) and this year and for years to come the Manchester youth group will commit to consistency. We will follow the same structure that the first disciples followed as they began their new era of ministry. “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.”-Acts 2:42. I believe if we can commit to being consistent just like the original followers of Jesus, we will be blessed in the same manner that they were. “And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” (Acts 2:47) Some people call this Sunday Easter, others call it Resurrection Sunday either one, this Sunday allow me to give a small recap of our trip to Tennessee, present a short video made by the teens and cast a new vision for the youth ministry and the direction of where we are going. (Proverbs 29:18)

Randall Colson, Youth Minister

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New Wine and Old Wineskins

Jesus often challenged the religious leaders of Israel for their hypocrisy.

They were guilty of distorting the law, adding burdens on others that were of their own making, and neglecting the more important matters of the law – justice, mercy and faithfulness. On one occasion He was confronted with the question of fasting. The disciples of John the Baptist and the Pharisees fasted. Jesus’ disciples did not. They asked Him why. Jesus answered them, as He often did, with a parable.

This morning we will spend time exploring the message of that parable. I believe that it is every bit as important for us today as it was 2,000 years ago. As we continue to deepen our understanding of what true discipleship looks like, we must recognize that when we accept Christ as Lord we don’t just add Him into our old way of life. Instead, we allow ourselves to be transformed into His likeness.

The lesson, New Wine and Old Wineskins is taken from the book of Luke.

—Scott Stafford, Elder, Manchester Church of Christ

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WHO ARE WE IN THE WORLD?

Second and third-generation followers of Jesus faced an identity crisis. They faced the question, “Who are we in the world?” What resulted were the writings of the New Testament.

“The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God” (Mark 1:1).

Jesus broke through and halted the devil’s work as revealed through his power over demons, disease, and death. His re-creative actions ushered in a life that thrives in both the present world and in eternity. He brought good news to the world as the Messiah (King), the Son of God. He united with humanity in flesh, joined them in penitent baptism, and was anointed by the Holy Spirit.

Jesus invited followers to experience the new anointed life. However, this life was nothing like what they could ever imagine because it had nothing to do with nationalistic or personal glory. It was a life shaped by baptism (submission), wilderness (trial), cross (sacrifice), and mission (service). It’s a life of giving up rather than hanging on, of being last rather than first, of welcoming the least rather than the greatest, and of being a servant rather than being served.

Today’s sermon will draw from Jesus’ journey toward Jerusalem in Mark 10:32-52. The narrative provides two statements that speak to the question, “Who are we in the world?”

“WE WANT YOU TO DO US A FAVOR?”

“WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO DO FOR YOU?”

Sermon Title: “WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO DO FOR YOU?” (Stand Alone)

Text: Mark 10: 32-52

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He is Lifted Up: The Beginning of Something New, part 7

In Numbers 21:4–9, we encounter a profound narrative that resonates deeply with the human experience of struggle, suffering, and the unwavering promise of divine healing. The Israelites, weary and disheartened on their journey through the wilderness, lamented their hardships and spoke against God and Moses resulting in venomous snakes invading the camp. Yet, amidst this turmoil, God also offered a path to redemption and healing. He instructed Moses to craft a bronze serpent and mount it on a pole. Those who were bitten could look upon this serpent and be healed. This act of faith, of simply looking up to the symbol of God’s provision, brought about miraculous restoration and renewal. Like the Israelites, we too face trials and tribulations that can leave us feeling overwhelmed and spiritually wounded. In moments of despair, it can be easy to lose sight of God’s presence and succumb to doubt or bitterness. However, Numbers 21:4-9 reminds us that healing and salvation are always within reach, no matter how dire our circumstances may seem. By fixing our gaze upon the source of our faith, by trusting in God’s enduring love and mercy, we can find the strength to persevere and emerge from our struggles with newfound hope and resilience. As we journey through life’s wilderness, let us take comfort in the knowledge that God is ever-present, ready to offer healing and redemption to all who call upon Him in faith. May we look up to Christ with unwavering trust, and experience the transformative power of God’s grace in our lives.

–Caleb McCaughan, The Beginning of Something New, part 7

Discussion Questions:

Reflecting on the symbolism of the bronze serpent in Numbers 21:4-9, how can we apply this imagery to our own lives when faced with challenges and hardships? How does the act of “looking up” to God’s provision relate to our journey of faith and healing today?How does this narrative challenge our understanding of faith and obedience? What lessons can we draw from this for our own spiritual growth and response to adversity?Consider the role of repentance and humility in the Israelites’ experience of healing. How does their acknowledgment of wrongdoing and turning back to God pave the way for restoration? The post He is Lifted Up appeared first on Manchester Church of Christ.

He Dwelt Among Us: The Beginning of Something New, part 6

We’re into the final stretch as we examine discipleship through the Exodus story. This week leads us to the final chapter of the book of Exodus before we briefly dip our toes into the book of Numbers next week. At first glance, it’s easy to read chapter 40 as a precursor to Leviticus and Deuteronomy, the books most commonly associated with various laws for the Israelite people. After all, it seems as if Exodus 40 is a list of instructions for Moses and the Israelites on how to build the Tabernacle and the proper way to ceremonially inaugurate it. Yet, it is about so much more than a series of rules and practices. The book of Exodus begins with the Israelites in Egypt as an enslaved people and it ends with God coming and dwelling with His people in the Tabernacle. This is a massive development for the people of God in its own right. Ever since Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, humanity has been separated from God because of wickedness and rebellion. But God has provided a way, through the Tabernacle, for His people to be in His presence and to let His glory be fully revealed. However, the Tabernacle (and eventually the temple) is not the final chapter. Jesus has come and “tabernacled” among us so that all, whether Jew or Greek, can fully experience the glory of God. My prayer for this week is that we will all have a better understanding of what the Tabernacle meant for the Israelites and the implications it has for us today.

–Caleb McCaughan, The Beginning of Something New: He Dwelt Among Us

Discussion Questions:

What are the parallels between the instructions given to Moses regarding the Tabernacle and the final week of Jesus’s ministry?What is the temple or “holy place” of our culture today?What day-to-day impact does Jesus’ dwelling among us have on us today? The post He Dwelt Among Us appeared first on Manchester Church of Christ.

Lead Me to Rest: The Beginning of Something New, part 5

In the book of Exodus, we are granted a profound glimpse into the intimate relationship between God and His people. Exodus 33 provides a captivating account of Moses’ fervent plea to encounter the divine presence and seeking assurance of God’s presence as the Israelites prepare to journey to the Promised Land. His request reflects a deep longing for intimacy with the Almighty, acknowledging that without God’s presence, their journey would be futile. God, in His infinite mercy and love, responds to Moses’ plea by promising His presence and guidance. He assures Moses, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” This promise is not merely a physical assurance but a profound spiritual reality—a reminder that God’s presence is our ultimate source of comfort, strength, and peace. The pinnacle of this encounter unfolds as God reveals His glory to Moses, allowing him to catch a glimpse of His majestic presence. In a moment of unparalleled intimacy, God passes before Moses, declaring His name and proclaiming His attributes of mercy, grace, patience, and steadfast love. As we reflect on this passage, may we, like Moses, yearn for a deeper encounter with the divine presence in our lives. Let us embrace God’s promise of companionship and rest, trusting that His presence will sustain us through every trial and lead us into the fullness of His glory.

Caleb McCaughan, The Beginning of Something New, part 5: Lead Me to Rest

Discussion Questions:

What can we learn from Moses’ bold plea to encounter God’s presence in Exodus 33:1-6, 15-23? How does his example inspire us to deepen our own relationship with God and seek His presence in our lives? In Exodus 33:14, God assures Moses, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” How does this promise resonate with us today? How can we experience God’s presence and find rest in the midst of life’s challenges and uncertainties? When God reveals His glory to Moses in Exodus 34:5-8, He proclaims His attributes of mercy, grace, patience, and steadfast love. How does this revelation of God’s character shape our understanding of Him? How can we reflect these attributes in our own lives and relationships? The post Lead Me to Rest appeared first on Manchester Church of Christ.

A lesson we all have to remember is that the books of the Bible are not individual and isolated pieces of literature. They are all part of the same grand story, both Old and New Testaments, and interwoven into a beautiful tapestry that informs us about who God is and how he relates to us. For example, as you read through the genealogy of Jesus in the first chapter of Matthew, you will notice that there are several prominent names listed in the ancestral record of our Messiah. The post Once Upon a Time in Moab appeared first on Manchester Church of Christ.

Friendship Evangelism

My wife and I are blessed to be here this morning! We have so many wonderful memories of our almost 18 years that we ministered here. This will always be our ‘favorite’ congregation!!

We are going to look at evangelism this morning and the priority that is a must-have in the life of every Christian and every congregation of the Lord’s people.

When we were transitioning to Texas eight years ago we met Laura. She was our real estate agent who represented us as we contracted our first home on Kelvington Drive in Anna. We depended on her to visit the site and give us reports on the progress that was being made each week. When we finally arrived in October 2015 and moved in, we developed a relationship with Laura. We had lunch together and began to talk with her and eventually her husband Tim as well. We baptized Laura about four months later into Christ and she started attending the High Point Church of Christ in McKinney, Texas.

This past weekend we were in the Rochester, New York area so that we could attend the wedding of our oldest granddaughter Sarena. (Grandpa performed her wedding)! During the reception, I sat down next to a man named Calvin. He was very quiet at first but the more I engaged him in conversation the more he opened up. When we parted company a few hours later, I hope that I left the door open to more conversations and a friendship, when we move to Rochester next spring.

I say all this to encourage us all to be mindful of people around us who need to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ. Pray that God will give you opportunities to befriend people and have conversations that will lead people to Jesus Christ. Paul writes, “Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ…” Col 4:2f.

–Arnie Holmes

Friendship Evangelism 09.03.2023

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Elementary Faith While the new year may officially begin on January 1st, there is a sizable portion of our population that uses a different calendar as their primary point of reference: the school year. Today, we are honoring and celebrating the transition as our kids move up a grade into their new classes. While this is exciting for all of our children, this is an especially exciting time for our 6th graders as they enter in the youth ministry here The post Elementary Faith appeared first on Manchester Church of Christ.

A New Hope, Strangers in a Familiar World, part 5 We have spent the past four weeks wrestling with this question: what does it mean to be holy? How do we live as a people who are set apart? Throughout the letter of 1 Peter, the apostle has spent considerable time giving guidance to Christians in specific scenarios as to how they can be a holy people in a world that is decisively not Christian. As we move into the The post A New Hope appeared first on Manchester Church of Christ.

In the face of trials, let us hold onto our faith with unyielding determination, knowing that God is using our difficulties to mold us into His image. Let love guide our interactions, fostering an atmosphere of acceptance and unity. And let us eagerly serve one another, using our gifts to advance Gods kingdom and draw others closer to Him. The post Living with Purpose appeared first on Manchester Church of Christ.

Growing in Grace As we continue our series this week, 1 Peter 3 stands out as a profound guide for believers seeking to live out their faith with grace and love, especially in the face of adversity. The chapter begins with an emphasis on the power of Christ-like conduct, highlighting the impact of a gentle and respectful attitude even towards those who oppose us. This counter-cultural approach not only reflects Christ’s teachings but also becomes a powerful testimony to the The post Growing in Grace appeared first on Manchester Church of Christ.

In this weeks sermon focusing on 1 Peter 2, we find ourselves dealing with a section of Scripture that is intensely practical. While there are those (myself included) who love to spend time discussing and debating the finer points of theology, many of us are simply asking this question: How do I faithfully live as a Christian in a world that is not? In our journey of faith, we often encounter challenges and trials that test our resolve. But in the midst of these difficulties, we find encouragement and guidance to fully embrace our identity as living stones in Christs spiritual house and call us to live in a way that reflects the teachings of Jesus. The post Building Blocks appeared first on Manchester Church of Christ.

Over the next five weeks, we’re going to be spending time in the letter of 1 Peter. I have always been drawn to this particular New Testament book because of how Peter begins his address: “To God’s elect, strangers in the world.” At its core, 1 Peter tackles significant themes that remain relevant across the centuries. It explores the call to holiness and the believer’s role as a living testimony amidst a hostile world. It delves into the theme of The post 1 Peter Week 1 appeared first on Manchester Church of Christ.

Forgiving the Unrepentant A few weeks ago, I preached from Matthew 18 about Jesus’ parable of the unforgiving servant, and a few of you have had some good follow-up questions since then. As we’ve probably all experienced, forgiving people who’ve wronged us can be really hard. Small slights may be easy to forgive, but sometimes the wounds we receive never fully heal, and then forgiveness can be incredibly difficult. That’s true even if the person who hurt us recognizes his The post Forgiving the Unrepentant appeared first on Manchester Church of Christ.

Covenant Renewal In Communion Good morning and welcome to worship! I’ve been looking forward to today’s worship for quite some time. This is one of those special Sundays when we tie everything we do in worship to what we call the Lord’s Supper or Communion. We continue to follow what we believe was the practice of the first-century Christians who gathered every Sunday morning to worship God and remember the death and resurrection of Jesus the Messiah. That’s why we The post Covenant Renewal In Communion appeared first on Manchester Church of Christ.

Facing Change Summer seems to be a time of distinct change and transition. Sometimes, this time of change can be a good thing. For our kids, summer marks the end of the school year and a season filled with the fun of church camps, sports camps, and other outdoor expeditions. For adults, it can be the yearly arrival of golf, gardening, and boating. Families may have a week or two of vacation planned to make new memories together. However, not The post Facing Change appeared first on Manchester Church of Christ.

As you hear the sermon today, I challenge you to do so with someone specific in mind: think about someone in your life who you find hard to forgive. I understand that this is uncomfortable, and I’m not trying to trigger any distress in you. I’m simply trying to help us work through this topic in a way that hears the teaching of Jesus and acts on it in ways that honor God. He never gives us a task without giving us the strength and resources to accomplish it. May his will be done in our lives as it is in heaven. The post The Unforgiving Servant appeared first on Manchester Church of Christ.

The Rich Man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31) My first experience with real poverty came during a three-week mission trip to Ghana in 2007. The country was experiencing a significant drought, which affected food supply, water availability, and the production of electricity. The result included horrific living conditions for the majority of the country. I saw women carrying five-gallon buckets nearly five miles from their rural village to the nearest water source, which was a mud hole about the size of The post The Rich Man and Lazarus appeared first on Manchester Church of Christ.

What Is Your Why? (Acts 13:36) – Randall Colson

Good morning, Church. On behalf of the Discernment Committee and the elders, I’m excited to announce that Randall Colson and his wife are visiting with us this weekend as we consider whether the Holy Spirit has brought us together for new ministry here in God’s mission. The DC has been meeting for prayer and conversation for just over a year now, and many of you have been praying with us all this time. We continue to ask God to bless our process and guide us as we seek the most God-honoring way to address the ongoing ministry needs here at Manchester. Please continue to pray with us and with the Colsons.

— Patrick Barber

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Ears to Hear, part 4: What God Hears

Good morning, Church. Our study continues this morning through selected parables of Jesus, and we’re going to give a fresh reading to the familiar parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector. If you are familiar with Jesus’ teachings as recorded in the New Testament gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, you know that Pharisees and tax collectors didn’t often get along. The Pharisees were some of the Jewish religious elite who thought of themselves as the only ones who were really right with God. They thought they knew how to worship, how to follow all the religious requirements God gave Moses, and they surely thought they knew how to pray.

When the Pharisees thought of tax collectors, they thought of people who had sold out to Roman paganism for the sake of profit. In the Pharisees’ eyes, tax collectors were “sinners” of the worst kind, and they were pretty sure that God didn’t hear the prayers of sinners. Bear that in mind when we hear Jesus’ story today about two men who went to pray—one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. And, as usual in Jesus’ teachings, there is a big surprise that causes us to rethink some of what we think we know about ourselves, those we consider more sinful than us, and the way God looks at us all.

As always, try to hear today’s story in a way that allows it to speak to your life. It’s not just an exciting illustration of humility and honest self-reflection; it’s an invitation to think about the way we look at people, listen to people, and think about people. We cannot ignore these things if we want to be like Jesus. May God give us ears to hear and the faith to be different.

— Patrick Barber

What God Hears, Ears to Hear, pt. 4

Digging Deeper:

Are you ever tempted to think of yourself as better than others? When, and why?Why isn’t God satisfied with outward appearances?What was a time when God humbled you?What’s an element of pride in your life that you need to confess to God? The post What God Hears appeared first on Manchester Church of Christ.

A Mother’s Love

Happy Mother’s Day! We have been blessed by the Lord to gather again in his name, and I’m prayerful that we will leave this place more filled than when we arrived. I suppose it’s okay if we come on Sunday mornings out of a sense of obligation to God, but it’s far better if we come because we truly want to be here. God has been good to us even in ways we haven’t noticed, so we should always be thankful from the heart. That’s part of why we offer our worship to the Lord.

We also come together to build each other up. As the Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 12:15, we are told to “rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep.” God calls us together to be his family so that we can feel that kind of genuine support. We’re here for one another in the good times and in the bad, and we’ve been blessed in recent weeks to do a lot of rejoicing. We’ve rejoiced together as many have confessed Jesus as the Christ and been baptized into him. We’ve had the chance to celebrate an upcoming wedding, a new pregnancy, birthdays, anniversaries, and other pieces of good news.

Today, we have another good thing to celebrate. A number of years ago, we started a tradition here at Manchester of making Mother’s Day more inclusive and honoring all our ladies. This is one of my favorite Sundays for reasons you’ll see later when our children bless all the ladies with roses. Please enjoy those few minutes, and try to soak up the love and appreciation we are trying to show the ladies of this church. It’ll do your heart good, and I’m confident that it pleases God as we mimic the love he models for us.

— Patrick Barber

A Mother’s Love – Mother’s Day 2023

Digging Deeper:

What’s a favorite memory you have of your mother?What are some motherly attributes we find in God?In what ways do you let people know that you care about them? The post A Mother’s Love appeared first on Manchester Church of Christ.

Ears to Hear, part 3, The Persistent Widow

Good morning, Church. Over the last few years, we’ve made a significant effort to grow in prayer here at Manchester. We’ve had seminars on prayer, we’ve gone through multiple Forty Days of Prayer, we’ve been using the Daily Scripture/Prayer Guide for about a year now, and we can point to specific ways the Holy Spirit has blessed us through this focus. But I imagine there are still some of us who struggle to pray.

When people are asked about the challenges of having a healthy prayer life, they often will say they don’t have enough time or that they don’t really know what to say or how to say it. However, even those who have a consistent prayer life can still find themselves struggling to pray. I’ve had times in my adult life when I started to lose the motivation to pray, and that happened when it seemed like God wasn’t giving me what I was praying for even though I was sure it was a good and righteous request.

This morning, we’ll be learning from a parable of Jesus that Luke records in Luke 18:1-8, and Jesus was teaching that we “ought always to pray and not lose heart” (Lk 18:1b). I hope that our time in the Word today will encourage us to take that lesson to heart and pray in ways that God accepts. You might be surprised to learn that God accepts more from us in prayer than many people think.

Just because God hears, however, doesn’t mean that God will always respond in the way we think. And that’s the problem. For us at least. Part of the way we deal with that disappointment is to remember who we’re talking to. Our God is always good, always right, and always just—except for when he’s gracious, which is even better.

— Patrick Barber, preaching minister

Digging Deeper:

What might cause us to “lose heart” in our prayer life?How do we know that it’s okay to talk to God about everything we’re thinking and feeling?Should we ever give up on prayer? If so, at what point do we stop asking for the same thing?In Jesus’ parable recorded in Luke 18:1-8, he says God will give justice quickly to the elect. How is that different than saying God will give us everything we ask for right when we want it? Ears to Hear, 3, The Persistent Widow

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Ears to Hear, 2: Parable of Two Lost Sons

Good morning, Church. Today we will be studying in Luke15 as we work through the second parable of Jesus in this new sermon series “Ears to Hear.” It’s a familiar story popularly known as The Prodigal Son, but the parable is really about all three of the main characters in it and the ways they relate to one another in light of the grace of God. It’s also the third parable in a series that Jesus tells about the lost being found. You’ll hear the first two read as part of this morning’s scripture reading, and it’s in the introduction to those parables in Luke 15:1-2 that we find the context and reason for the parables in the first place.

You probably already know that Jesus’ primary opponents were the religious leaders of his day. They’re often referred to as scribes and Pharisees. Part of their problem was that even though they had knowledge of God’s law as recorded in the Torah, they too often didn’t know how to apply it with the same kind of love and mercy that is integral to God’s character. They thought they were loving God with all their heart, mind, soul, and strength, but they weren’t paying close enough attention to how God’s compassion motivated God to be more like a shepherd than a sheriff. Jesus, of course, was/is the Good Shepherd, so he loved people in ways the Pharisees couldn’t understand.

It’s that love of God that permeates the parables we find in Luke 15, and that love is seen in the joy expressed when the lost are found and those that were dead come to life again. That’s good news for all of us who need a Savior, and it’s an ongoing challenge for all of us trying to live like him.

— Patrick Barber, preaching minister

Ears to Hear, 2: Parable of Two Lost Sons

Digging Deeper:

Why did Jesus tell these three parables in Luke 15? (see Luke 15:1-2)In the parable of the Lost Sons, who does the father represent, and who does the older son represent?Why doesn’t the older son want to share in his father’s joy and celebrate his brother’s return?How should we respond to people who have sinned but repent and return to God?What keeps us from being more like God instead of more like the scribes and Pharisees? The post Parable of Two Lost Sons appeared first on Manchester Church of Christ.

Parables of Jesus, 1 – The Sower

Good morning, Church and guests. Welcome to our weekly time of worship to which our God has called us in unity and praise. May our ears hear clearly and our hearts be receptive to whatever truths God gives us this morning through his word. We know that the Holy Spirit is active all the time, and when we focus our minds and hearts on drawing near to him, he will bless us with wisdom and courage so that we can keep on living each day for the Lord.

I’m excited to kick off a new sermon series with you this morning that will have us engaging some of the most fruitful but frustrating teachings of Jesus—his parables. We won’t go through all of them, but I have ten or twelve that I hope to preach about over the next few months.

If you’ve studied Jesus’ parables before, I hope you won’t tune out thinking this is all old material. The parables and their applications are rich enough to continue to challenge us year after year, no matter how familiar they might initially seem. And if you’re new to the parables and are a little bit uneasy about them, because you’ve heard they’re hard to understand, have courage. God does give understanding to those who seek it, and while we may not understand everything Jesus has to say, I am confident that there will always be something we can take away from these studies and apply to our lives.

This morning’s text is Matthew 13:1-23 and covers material best known as the Parable of the Sower. I hope that before our worship time begins, you’ll pause to pray silently for all of us that we might have ears to hear Jesus’ message. God hears our prayers and always gives us what we need at the right time. I’m hoping that we will experience that goodness for ourselves today. May the Lord be praised.

— Patrick Barber

The Sower, Lesson 1 from The Parables of Jesus Sermon Series

Digging deeper:

Why did Jesus teach in parables?What are some practical ways we can help people become better “soil” so that God’s word can take root and bear fruit?How do we avoid falling prey to the troubles and cares of the world?Whose salvation can we be praying for daily, and how we can help that person grow in their desire for God? The post The Sower appeared first on Manchester Church of Christ.

The State of the Church

Statistically speaking, the most well-attended days of the year for churches are Christmas and Easter Sunday. For a variety of reasons, entering into these holiday seasons get people thinking about God and His role in their lives. Yet, things seem to “come back to earth” in the weeks following these holidays. This isn’t to cast blame or point fingers at anyone but to simply acknowledge yearly trends. Why is that? So what do we do after Christmas and Easter have passed? This week we’re going to spend time looking at the response of the early church following the resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ. We’ll explore exactly how the apostles and early Christians committed themselves to spread the Gospel and making disciples as Christianity spread outward from Jerusalem to the greater Roman Empire, to eventually all across the world. Then, we’ll look at some contemporary examples of missional efforts and get practical applications for us as a congregation as well. As the cultural and religious landscape of the United States (and of New England, to be even more specific) continues to shift and change, it’s important that the Church be active and engaged in reaching our neighbors. At the end of the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus gave us the command to go into all of the world making disciples, baptizing, and teaching. That’s our mission globally as a Church, and it begins for us here as a congregation in central Connecticut.

Caleb McCaughan, The State of the Church

What about Easter do you find encouraging to your faith?How does the focus on Christ’s resurrection on Easter impact your spiritual walk in the weeks after?How do you see the Great Commission being fulfilled in central Connecticut?How can we specifically empower others to come to know Christ in our area? Mathew 28: 16-20

Manchester Church of Christ

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Jesus Our Passover Lamb

Welcome to our Easter Sunday time of worship. If you are visiting today, please fill out a blue card located in the back of the pews in the auditorium, and please turn it in at the Welcome Center in the foyer. We’d love to get to know you soon.

While we hope that every Sunday is significant in its own way, there is something just a little extra special about worshipping together on Easter. While we don’t really know when Jesus was born, we do know that he was crucified during Passover, and Passover is a time that’s easy to track each year. Just this past Wednesday night at sundown, Passover began.

Stretching back over three thousand years, Passover continues to be an annual time of celebratory remembrance of the night God crushed the strength of Pharoah and spared the lives of the Israelite faithful. It took place on the evening of the tenth and final plague that God used to punish the idolatrous Egyptians, and it marked the beginning of a journey of freedom that took the children of Israel out of slavery and toward the Promised Land.

When Jesus died for us, he functioned as our Passover lamb. He was without blemish—innocent of sin of any kind. And yet he willingly suffered and died so that we could be free from sin and guilt. His death paid a price that we could not pay, and his resurrection pioneered a path that we still follow today that leads us to the Father. Those are clear reasons to be thankful and rejoice, and I hope we do that this morning. There’s also a lesson there for the way we should think about our time when we celebrate Communion (the Lord’s Supper) each week, but I’ll save that for another day. In the meantime, let’s enjoy this special day of worship together.

— Patrick Barber

Passover can be found starting in Exodus 12:21

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Incarnating the Gospel

Hello, Church. Do you like surprises? I suppose it depends, doesn’t it? Not all surprises are good, and sometimes even good surprises can be awkward. This morning we’re going to read about a surprise that Paul dropped on the Colossian church at the end of his letter to them. I imagine it was an unexpected bit of news that had the potential to blow up into division and possibly even violence.

The surprise (spoiler alert…) involved the return of a fugitive slave named Onesimus, and suddenly Paul’s encouragement and exhortations that he’d spent the whole of his Colossian letter writing about were becoming very very real. His words weren’t just words; they were truths inspired by the Holy Spirit of God that were given so that God’s people could live more like Christ.

The Colossians, if we can assume that their motivations and worldview are similar to our own, would have loved Paul’s teaching about empowerment and inheritance and victory in Christ. They would have been challenged by Paul’s teaching about everyday ethics and the appropriate use of authority in our relationships. But they probably were shocked by Paul’s partnership with Onesimus and Paul’s instructions to his master Philemon. That’s how it usually works for us, too. We love the blessings and promises of God, but we’re much more hesitant to accept the really hard teachings that call us to humility, forgiveness, and sacrifice. That, however, is where we find the gospel of Jesus. And that’s where the world needs to find Christ living in us.

— Patrick Barber

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Guest Speaker: Dr Olu Shabazz

Welcome to worship this morning! We’ve been blessed by the Lord with a weekend full of encouragement, fellowship, and opportunities to have our faith renewed and our zeal rekindled. Many of you volunteered with Inspire New England, and your efforts did not go unnoticed. Thank you so much for making people feel welcome and uplifted.

I’m excited this morning to hear another lesson from Dr. Olu Shabazz the senior preaching minister at the Harlem Church of Christ. He has been speaking on the theme of “Revive Us Again” this weekend, and I know it’s a theme that really resonates with me. Like you, I sometimes struggle with a variety of challenges that cause us to grow frustrated and weary. And like you, I pray for God’s strength, endurance, and protection from the evil one. So this is a day I’ve been looking forward to because, like you, I’ve come here this morning to worship our God and to be revived.

When we come together to worship, I often think of Hebrews 12:22-24, which says, “But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.” That inspires me to be thankful, to be faithful, and to be praiseful today.

May the Lord God be pleased with everything we do this morning as we celebrate Jesus Christ the risen Lord and as we rededicate ourselves to living in ways that bring honor and glory to his name.

— Patrick Barber

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Freedom for the Sake of Others – Colossians 3:18-4-6

Good morning, Church. It’s been a wild weather week here in Connecticut, but we’re not in control of that stuff—God is. Whether we like to admit it or not, that’s also true for much of what happens in our lives. So many things happen that are outside of our control, and we all—no matter our age—really hunt for those opportunities to have the freedom to do, have, and be what we want. That’s part of what makes Jesus so attractive to those who feel burdened by life; he offers a kind of deliverance and freedom that we hunger for.

That freedom, however, isn’t a license to serve ourselves. It brings a special responsibility that involves submitting to God in ways that require us to use our freedom in service to others. And that’s hard, especially in a culture like ours that prioritizes self-actualization and self-gratification.

In our sermon text today (Colossians 3:18-4:6), we find some instructions from Paul that seriously challenge us as we think about authority, submission, and how we relate to one another. These are countercultural, and they have often been abused by those who missed the point of the gospel and used their supposed positions of power to dominate and use others.

To understand these texts, we have to remember that Jesus served all of us, even though he is “the head of all rule and authority” (Col. 2:10). So how do we make sense of these things, and how do we apply such counter-cultural truths to the communities we live in? And how do we act and speak out of this others-focused freedom in ways that helps our neighbors see the beauty of the gospel? I hope to help us think through at least some of this today, and I pray God gives us the power to live like Christ.

— Patrick Barber

Col 3.18-4.6, Freedom for the Sake of Others

Digging deeper:

We usually embrace freedom as a way to make ourselves happy, but how can we use our freedom in Christ to serve others?Does showing submission to others imply that we are inferior? Explain.How does working for the Lord enable us to endure some of the unfairness of life in the flesh? What does Paul mean in Col. 4:6, and how do we do that? The post Freedom for the Sake of Others appeared first on Manchester Church of Christ.

Resurrection Life, Life in Christ, pt. 5: Col 3:1-17

Good morning, Church. We give thanks to God the Father today for waking us up in our right minds, for bringing us here safely, and for being a God worthy of praise. As we’ve been reminded during our study through the first two chapters of the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Colossians, we owe everything to the majestic power and authority of Jesus Christ our Lord. There is no real life outside of him, but thanks to his loving sacrifice we can be united with him and have access to his power and grace.

Last week we heard Paul talk about the dangers of man-made religion and false teachings that can either enslave us or give us a false sense of liberty. It’s really difficult sometimes to know what to believe and what to do because Scripture doesn’t speak directly to each thing we encounter in our lives, so when we find ourselves in those gray areas of life, we especially have to focus on loving those we disagree with and giving as much grace as we hope God gives us.

Today, however, Paul helps us by teaching us some things that are indisputably good and some things that are undeniably bad. These are settled boundary markers from God that help keep us focused and aligned with his will, his character, and his mission. They help give us a sense of what it is to live like Christ in this resurrection life he has given all who have been united with him in faith.

As we study this morning, let’s personalize what Paul says so that we leave this place having had a genuine experience with the Father through the Holy Spirit. That can happen when we repent of the things we need to cast off and appeal to him for help in growing in those things of Christ that we need to give our lives a holier shape and purpose. He is with us. He can hear us. And He will help us.

— Patrick Barber

Life in Christ, pt 5: Col 3.1-17, Resurrection Life

Digging Deeper:

In Colossians 3:5-9, Paul lists a number of things that are sinful. What are some other sins that he could have added to this list? Why didn’t he mention those things, too?What are some sinful attitudes or practices that you still struggle with?Why does Paul describe these sinful things as “earthly” (Col 3:5) as opposed to “things that are above” (Col 3:1-2)? In Colossians 3:12-17, Paul lists a number of godly attributes that we should all work to develop. Which of these are evident in you, and what’s one that you’d really like to develop further?How do we grow in these godly traits? The post Resurrection Life appeared first on Manchester Church of Christ.

Colossians 2:6-23, The Appearance of Wisdom

Good morning! It’s good to be back together for worship.

Scripture is an amazing resource for all of us who want to know how to live better in relation to God and the people around us. Scripture, however, isn’t as detailed as we sometimes want it to be. We all have questions we’d like to find answers to in the pages of the Bible, but there are all sorts of things the Bible doesn’t address—at least not directly. But that doesn’t mean that we don’t do our best to figure out what God wants from us. How, then, do we handle the issues that don’t have simple answers?

Some people choose to lean way over to the “freedom” side of the spectrum, while others tend to slide the other way to a position they sometimes refer to as “safe.” It’s hard to know which way to lean, and it’s even more complicated when we’re trying to figure out tough issues with the world weighing in with its countless philosophies and opinions.

The Apostle Paul was trying to help the church in Colossae figure out those kinds of issues. We’d like to know exactly what sorts of worldly arguments and opinions he was responding to, but the text doesn’t clarify all that. What we’re left with is a clear focus on Christ Jesus as the source of our truth, a warning to avoid human opinions that sound good but lack godliness, and a reminder that we are alive and bound to Christ in a way that normal human experience can’t understand. This morning, we’ll try to wade through some of that in a way that—I hope—makes sense and gives us a way to think about how we can continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.

— Patrick Barber

Digging Deeper Questions for the sermon: The Appearance of Wisdom

Digging Deeper:

What are some popular human traditions or teachings in our culture that are not consistent with the ways of God found in Scripture?What does Paul mean when he says our baptism is akin to being circumcised in Christ?How do we learn wisdom from Christ?How can we distinguish between “do’s” and “don’ts” that come from God versus counterproductive rules that are man-made? The post The Appearance of Wisdom appeared first on Manchester Church of Christ.

The Mystery of Christ, Col 1:24-2:5

Good morning, Church. You accomplished something important just by getting yourself ready this morning and showing up for worship. That’s more than most people on the planet did, and hopefully you made that choice because you love God and understand how irrelevant life is without him.

As we grow in Christ, our motivations mature. Many people turn to God initially out of fear of hell or the promise of heaven, and that’s fine. Jesus taught about those things. But Jesus also taught about learning to live like him and walk the path he walked out of obedience to the Father. As much as we’d like that path to be easy and smooth every step of the way, we who’ve been disciples for a long time know that it can be a daily struggle. I’m not saying that it IS always a struggle just that it CAN be, and it helps to realize that the struggle is part of it on purpose.

One of the mysterious things the Apostle Paul wrote to the Colossians in today’s sermon text (Col. 1:24-2:5) is that he was rejoicing in his sufferings for the sake of his fellow Christians. That’s not something that comes naturally to us at all, but it is something that we who follow Jesus are supposed to grow into. I’m not going to drill all the way down into that topic today, but it’s one of the things I hope we’ll get to delve into a bit this morning as we continue our sermon series through the great letter to the Colossians. As always, if you have more questions, please reach out and let me know. I’m here to listen, study, pray, and suffer with you if that’s what God calls us to do.

In Him,

Patrick

Col 1:24-2:5, The Mystery of Christ

Digging Deeper:

What is the “mystery” revealed in Christ that Paul talks about in Colossians 1:24-2:5?How does suffering make us more like Jesus?Who empowers us for ministry and service, and how does that happen?What sacrifice could you make for God that would feel like suffering on your part?Read 1 Peter 4:12-16 and discuss the blessings that come out of suffering for Christ. The post The Mystery of Christ appeared first on Manchester Church of Christ.

Who is this Messiah?

When was the last time you thought about how fortunate we are to have the Bible and ready access to it? Available in our hands is this wonderful collection of narratives, prophecies, poetry, parables, and sermons that reveal who God is to us. From Genesis to Revelation, we have all of Scripture before us so that we may know God. Whether we are at home in our favorite chair or on the road in a hotel, we are able to sit down and pour over the biblical text in prayer and study. Historically, that has not always been the case. Whether due to a lack of access to a physical Bible or being located in a context where the God we worship is relatively unknown, others have not been as fortunate as we are today. Early on in Scripture, knowledge about God was passed down through generations by storytelling and placing physical markers. Yet, there are moments where God reveals Himself to an individual or a community so that they may know Him more fully. The passage we are spending time in this morning is an example of this. The Israelites have just come out of Egypt and are placing trust in the God of their ancestors. Sure, they must have heard stories passed over generations, but they must also be wondering who exactly is this God that dragged them out into the wilderness. It is here that God reveals who He is to His people. This moment will shape the trajectory of the Israelites as history progresses on to the arrival of Jesus Christ. While pivotal for the Israelites, this portrait of God is crucial for us today as we seek to know our God.

Caleb McCaughan, for the Manchester Church of Christ

Who is this Messiah? 02.19.2023

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A Portrait of God

When was the last time you thought about how fortunate we are to have the Bible and ready access to it? Available in our hands is this wonderful collection of narratives, prophecies, poetry, parables, and sermons that reveal who God is to us. From Genesis to Revelation, we have all of Scripture before us so that we may know God. Whether we are at home in our favorite chair or on the road in a hotel, we are able to sit down and pour over the biblical text in prayer and study. Historically, that has not always been the case. Whether due to a lack of access to a physical Bible or being located in a context where the God we worship is relatively unknown, others have not been as fortunate as we are today. Early on in Scripture, knowledge about God was passed down through generations by storytelling and placing physical markers. Yet, there are moments when God reveals Himself to an individual or a community so that they may know Him more fully. The passage we are spending time in this morning is an example of this. The Israelites have just come out of Egypt and are placing trust in the God of their ancestors. Sure, they must have heard stories passed over generations, but they must also be wondering who exactly is this God that dragged them out into the wilderness. It is here that God reveals who He is to His people. This moment will shape the trajectory of the Israelites as history progresses to the arrival of Jesus Christ. While pivotal for the Israelites, this portrait of God is crucial for us today as we seek to know our God.

Caleb McCaughan, A Portrait of God

Digging Deeper Discussion Questions

How would you tend to describe God?
What do you find compelling about how God describes Himself?
What do you find challenging about how God describes Himself?
How do you see these characteristics in Jesus Christ?

Keywords: Bible, Access, Narratives, Prophecies, Poetry, Parables, Sermons, God, Genesis, Revelation, Scripture, Prayer, Study, Physical Bible, Early Scripture, Storytelling, Physical Markers, Israelites, Egypt, God’s Revelation, Jesus Christ, Portrait of God.

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He Is and He Has

Is it really possible that January has already come and gone? The calendar says it’s true, so I guess I believe it. Still, it feels like life has been a whirlwind, and I’m not sure we can see it slowing down anytime soon. It’s exciting to know that we’ve already had two baptisms in this new year, and I’m prayerful that more are on the way—as many are currently in bible studies.

When I think about the importance of baptism and the new beginning it projects, I think about my own baptism decades ago and the way it made me feel. I was excited, joyful, and a little nervous about starting this new life without sin. Of course, it didn’t take long for me to sin again, and that broke my pre-teen heart, because I was trying so hard to please God and not mess up again. Silly me. My idealistic mind had high hopes, and I had to grow into an understanding of just how powerful the pull of sin can be and how forgiving our God is.

As my faith and understanding grew, so did my appreciation for what Christ had done for me, especially as I came to understand just how big and impressive Jesus Christ is. One of the places that describes the nature and mission of the Christ in the most majestic of ways is found in today’s sermon text (Col. 1:15-23). My prayer is that as we read it this morning we will be in awe of who Christ is and what he has done for us. If you have questions, please let me know. God bless.

— Patrick Barber

Digging Deeper:

Why is it important to Paul that the Colossian Christians understand that Jesus Christ was fully God in the flesh?Since Christ is the fullness of God and has preeminence and dominion over all things, what does that tell us about all other religions or philosophies that don’t properly honor Christ?What does that tell us about ourselves if we don’t properly honor and obey Christ?What kind of tough questions do you sometimes get from people about your faith?How do you respond to those questions? He Is and He Has – original sermon date 02.05.2023

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Moving Forward Together

Think for a minute about a transitional time in your life: maybe you were graduating or getting married or changing jobs. Was it stressful, exciting, or maybe some of both? I think we’re at a point like that here at Manchester as we transition into a slightly different way of viewing and doing ministry together. Is it stressful? Yes. But is it also exciting? Absolutely!

During the sermon time this morning, we’ll take a look at Colossians 4 and reflect on the many different people the Apostle Paul mentions as he concludes that letter. Some of the names will be familiar to those of you who’ve been studying the Bible for a long time, while other names may be completely new to many of us. And it’s not really important for you to remember the names anyway. What is important is for us to realize what Paul is doing in the first place.

Paul was good at a lot of things. He was a preacher at heart and a church planter with a lot of pastoral skills to boot, but he was also wise enough to know that the day would come when he wouldn’t be around anymore. When that day came, he wanted to be sure that the churches he loved were in good hands.

I hope those of us who’ve led and served the congregation at Manchester for a long time realize the same thing and take the same steps Paul did to ensure the church thrives well beyond our years here. The church, if healthy, has to constantly be producing new servants, new leaders, and new pathways into ministry for the next generation. Otherwise, the church just slowly rots and decays, and none of us want that. I hope you’ll listen carefully today, find a way to apply the lesson to your life and ministry, and keep praying for the church as we move forward together in this new year.

— Patrick Barber

Moving Forward Together, January 22, 2023

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Psalms of Comfort

Good morning, Church. As the chairman of our Discernment Committee, I want you to know how much the committee appreciates your prayers and your patience as we continue to move closer to an attempt to attract an additional minister or two to join the work here at Manchester. Our committee has been meeting almost every single week since June. We read the daily scripture from our Prayer Guide together, then we take three minutes of silent reflection and contemplation before each taking a turn to pray for God’s guidance through our discernment process. We then spend the rest of the hour working through all sorts of things as we do our best to figure out our most significant unmet ministry needs. Your participation in last summer’s Ministry Chats and Survey was an enormous help in this process, so please know that your time was not wasted. I’ve been waiting to share updates with you, because it’s taken us a long time to think through a variety of options and develop a multi-pronged proposal for the elders to consider.

The Discernment Committee delivered that proposal to the elders just a few weeks ago, and the committee is meeting together with the elders this coming Wednesday night to talk through the possibilities and plot a path forward. We are continuing to ask for God to give us wisdom and guidance through His Holy Spirit, so please keep this in your prayers as well. I also invite you to join me in a day of prayer and fasting on Wednesday so that our focus can be heightened and we can be reminded of the significance of this process in the life of the church here at Manchester.

Once the elders and the committee have a defined plan for moving forward in our search process, I’ll give you all another more detailed update. Until then, just keep praying, because God is at work for the good of his mission in this place.

— Patrick Barber

Psalms of Comfort Digging Deeper Discussion Questions

Do you have a favorite Psalm? What is it, and why is it your favorite?Do you believe that it’s okay to share all your thoughts and feelings with God? Why or why not?What scriptures do you turn to for comfort and peace? Let’s read some of these together.Do you have a special time and/or place that you use to spend time with God when you’re weary? Can you describe it? What about that time or place makes it special for you?When can you prioritize some private time with God in your schedule this week? The post Psalms of Comfort appeared first on Manchester Church of Christ.

Dedicated to the Lord

Welcome, everyone, to worship this morning. May the Lord God be pleased with what he sees and hears from us as we praise him and encourage one another. Worship is more than singing and praying and listening to a sermon. It’s even more than thinking about the death and resurrection of Jesus, which we do every week when we commune around the Lord’s Supper. Worship time should also involve the weekly discipline of recommitting ourselves to the covenant of God and rededicating ourselves to a life that prioritizes serving in his mission.

This morning, I hope to lead us through a time of reflection that helps us learn from the powerful example of a woman named Hannah, and I hope our learning leads us to rededicate ourselves to the Lord’s service in significant ways.

Hannah’s true story is recorded in the Old Testament book of 1 Samuel, which is named after her son. We’ll look together at parts of the first two chapters of that book. There we’ll find her story of strength, courage, perseverance, and faith. It motivates me to want to be more like her, and I hope you’ll find something of value there, too.

If you do, your tomorrow will look different than today.

Here’s what I mean by that: God gives us access to his word and his wisdom so that we will be a changed people. The Holy Spirit is working in his church to make us holy vessels for the Lord’s service. But he will not force us in ways that go against our will. Instead, God will nurture and gently guide us into his righteousness, which is the only true path to blessing in this life. So be thinking about how the things we discuss today can change your life, because with God’s help and your cooperation, they will.

— Patrick Barber

Dedicated to the Lord

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I Am Resolved to…

Happy New Year! This is an exciting time for us as a church as we continue to push ahead in God’s mission. It seems like we’ve been in a constant state of transition for many years now, and maybe that’s how it’s supposed to be. If we sit still for too long, our muscles atrophy and our resolve weakens. We become apathetic and lose our zeal for the Lord, his people, and his work. And we cannot do that. Not ever.

God has called us to be his people, and his people know special blessings as well as special burdens. Jesus showed us what that looked like, and now we walk the same path he did—cross and all. And that is good news. It doesn’t sound like good news, and many times it doesn’t feel like a blessing, but walking in the way of Christ is the only way we make it to eternal life with the Father (John 14:6).

As we enter 2023, we have the responsibility to make the most of our opportunities to grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord (2 Peter 3:18). But how do we do that? Is it by adding more prayer, more study, more service, and more fellowship to our already busy lives? It might be exactly that. It might also be trimming things from our lives that distract us from our mission and divert our focus from being on the things God says are most important. There are lots of ways to become better aligned with our Creator and King, and I hope to talk about some of them this morning. As always, if you have questions or needs, please let me know. I’m here to help as we grow and glorify our God together. “To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen” (2 Peter 3:18b).

— Patrick Barber

I Am Resolved to…

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Jesus and Shepherds

Merry Christmas, and welcome to our worship time today! I know that every Sunday is good, because we gather to worship God, encourage each other, and rededicate ourselves to the Lord’s service in the taking of communion. But some Sundays to bring extra blessings, because on days like today we always have additional family and friends worshipping with us. We are so thankful for that, and I pray that everyone here today will hear a message from the Word that opens our eyes to the goodness of God.

Normally, you’d probably expect me to read this morning from Matthew’s gospel or Luke’s gospel where they tell us about the birth of Jesus. You might expect to hear that story we tell almost every Christmas about the shepherds watching over their flocks at night or the angelic proclamation that Mary was chosen by God to carry his son. Or maybe you expect to hear about wicked King Herod’s murder of all the baby boys in Bethlehem when he heard that a new king had been born there. There are powerful lessons in all those accounts, but I suspect you’ve heard them all before. Even those who may only worship with us a couple of times a year have heard some of those stories—multiple times. Because of that, I’m going to share something different with you today.

I want you to know not only what Jesus was when he was born in Bethlehem; I want you to know what he became when he grew up into his full ministry. One of the titles he uses for himself in John 10 is “the Good Shepherd,” and this morning we’ll see what he meant by that. Hopefully we’ll also consider what that means for us and what it means for the ministry we should live out in service to one another. God bless.

— Patrick Barber

Jesus and Shepherds 12/25/2022

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The Mission of God & Us, part 5: My Part in God’s Work

Good morning, Church and guests! It’s good to be here today to praise God and thank him for his love and grace. As we near the end of this year we have an opportunity to reflect on some of the things that have shaped our lives over the last twelve months. As is the case every year, our lives have been a mixture of ups and downs, but each thing we’ve experienced was an opportunity to learn more about God and ourselves. That’s really been the goal of this series that concludes today on “The Mission of God & Us.”

We’ve talked about how God’s goal is to share every blessing he possesses with his creation, and God is still bringing that to reality in spite of humanity’s best efforts to ruin things through our rebellion and sin. We’ve seen how Jesus came and perfectly demonstrated the way to have a full relationship with the Father, even though it meant that Jesus would have to humble himself, submit to a sacrificial lifestyle, and die for those the Father loves (us). We’ve also seen how Jesus shared that mission with others he mentored and equipped so that the good news of God’s reign would be spread over all the earth. And last week we talked about some ways the congregation here is carrying that same mission forward in our time and place.

Today, it’s time to talk about how you and I find our place in that work. I’ve said before that you and I are meant to not only receive God’s blessings but also to pour them out on the people around us. We are his vessels doing his work in his name. What a great honor that is for us to be included in this way. But God expects us to work at it and grow as we go so that the glory of his name continues to reach into every dark corner of creation. Are you doing your part? If not, why not start today?

— Patrick Barber

My Part in God’s Work: The Mission of God & Us, part 5

1 Peter 4:10-11

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The Church in Action

There’s a statement the Apostle Peter made when preaching to the household of a man named Cornelius (Acts 10) that I’ve always loved. It says in v.38 that Jesus “went about doing good…” What a simple way to summarize the ministry of the Lord. He went about doing good. That should be a basic litmus test for the ministries we coordinate as the Lord’s church: do they do good? Do they help people in ways that point them to the Father? If not, we’re off mission.

In today’s lesson, The Church in Action, I hope to talk about some of the good works that are ongoing here at Manchester. These are a sampling of some things that we do together for God’s glory. Some are old, and some are new, but they are all intended to reflect the love we see in the life of Christ. While today is not a ministry recruitment lesson, per se, it is an opportunity for you to think about what we’re doing as a body and how you might fit into some of that work. God expects all of us to do our part, and he provides all sorts of opportunities for us. I am certain that there is good work for YOU to do as part of the church here. If you need help figuring out how to do that, let me know, and I’ll give you a hand.

This also gives us a chance to think about gaps we might have in our ministry structure. Are there things Jesus was concerned about that we aren’t doing? Should we be doing those things? Can we be doing those things? I don’t think we can do everything that could be done, but we should be willing to look around and evaluate if we’re really doing all we can for God or not. These are things that require prayer and wisdom and discernment, and hopefully we’ll take time for that today, too.

— Patrick Barber

The Mission of God & Us; part 4: The Church in Action

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Jesus at Work

I’ve always found it fascinating that when God decided to take on flesh and live as one of us, he came as a baby born to peasants in the Judean countryside. Why not choose a royal setting instead? When Jesus grew up and announced his ministry as the ministry God assigned to the Messiah, he did it in the little synagogue in the backwater town of Nazareth (Luke 4:16). Why not set up shop at the temple in Jerusalem instead? And when Jesus chose apprentices to accompany him and carry on his mission, why did he choose so many average people instead of the best and the brightest the Jewish religious complex had to offer?

This is just how God works. Over and over again in Scripture we find God creating great things from small, broken things. He does it to show his power. He does it to humble those who think they are something they’re not. And he does it to teach us that none of us are worthless in his kingdom mission.

We are blessed at Manchester to have many ministries already in place that carry on the work of the Lord, and I won’t be able to highlight them all, but it is encouraging to realize how much good work God is already doing through us. But I believe that we always have room to keep growing in ministry. The way to do that is to encourage and equip those among us who aren’t really connected to ministry yet. Sometimes people feel like it’s enough just to be present in worship, but God calls us to more than that. And sometimes people feel like they don’t have anything to offer, but God calls us to reject that lie from the devil. We are God’s people, and it is his power that enables us to be part of his ongoing mission in this place. And that’s exciting.

— Patrick Barber

The Mission of God & Us, part 3: Jesus at Work

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As we study together this morning in our second lesson about The Mission of God & Us, we’re going to build on what we started last week and add more specific examples as we think about what God has been doing with us and for us from the very beginning. I hope that you will really focus on what we see and hear from Jesus, because it should do two things for you: 1) it should remind us that God does care about our day-to-day needs. He made us as whole people, and his redemptive will for us is holistic. 2) it should remind us that God gives all of us opportunities to do good in his name that is part of what it means for us to “proclaim the gospel.” The post Following the Father appeared first on Manchester Church of Christ.

If you ever wonder if it’s worth it—living a life of faith—I hope that today’s lesson and the ones to follow will help you see that it is. We’re going to be studying through a new series called “The Mission of God and Us,” and I believe it will help you connect to some truths that will help you find meaning and purpose in this life and that it will grow your hunger for the life still to come. You’ll see; there is always a reason to be thankful. The post The Mission of God and Us appeared first on Manchester Church of Christ.

What Do You Desire is a special sermon to close out our 2022 youth rally, FOMO. Chet Duke was the key note speaker for the Manchester CofC The post What Do You Desire appeared first on Manchester Church of Christ.

The Empty Tomb Welcome to another day God has made and another opportunity to worship the One who made us, saved us, and is preparing an eternal place for us. I hope you already know this, because every believer should: our life’s entire purpose and perspective is grounded in the belief that Jesus Christ was raised from the dead, never to die again. That’s the one core truth that binds everything else together and gives it ultimate meaning. If Jesus was The post The Empty Tomb appeared first on Manchester Church of Christ.

The Death of the Son of God Good morning, Church family. We are in the middle of a very busy season here at Manchester. Just in the last few weeks we’ve had our annual Harvest Costume Carnival, Inspire New England, and the Ladies’ Tea, among other things. Before long we’ll host another blood drive, a marriage seminar, and our big Youth Rally, in addition to the ongoing ministries of GriefShare and FriendSpeak. Whew. There’s a lot happening—and that’s just counting The post The Death of the Son of God appeared first on Manchester Church of Christ.

with our annual Inspire New England conference. Mike Ireland from Searcy, Arkansas, has been our keynote speaker for the weekend, and he will be preaching and teaching a combined class for us this morning. So, you are in for a treat. Mike and I ministered together at the West Side Church of Christ in Searcy, AR, from 2004-2011, and I learned a lot from his mentoring and his example. He loves God and the church, and you will undoubtedly hear something this morning that blesses you and helps you walk a little more in step with Jesus. The post Living in God’s Grace appeared first on Manchester Church of Christ.

Introducing Barabbas: This morning we are back in our year-long series in the Gospel of Mark, and we pick things up with the ongoing trial of Jesus in Mark 15. We’re in the climax of Mark’s testimony from here on out, and we all should know what’s coming. Jesus has been betrayed by Judas, abandoned by the rest of the Twelve disciples, and denied three times by Peter, one of his closest friends. He’s been falsely accused in his Jewish trial, and now the chief priests and Jewish elders have handed Jesus over to the Roman official Pontius Pilate in hopes that he might be condemned to death. The post Introducing Barabbas appeared first on Manchester Church of Christ.

Mindful & Graceful Stress Management is a stand alone sermon aimed at helping us use our faith in God as a tool in managing stress & anxiety The post Mindful & Graceful Stress Management appeared first on Manchester Church of Christ.

As I mentioned at the beginning of last week’s sermon, these are heavy somber texts. We aren’t merely talking about fascinating miracles or interested debates between Jesus and the Pharisees. We’re reading eye-witness accounts of the unjust conviction and gruesome execution of the Son of God who came willingly to live as one of us, show us the Father in ways humanity could not see otherwise, and provide for us a path to redemption and grace. To sit and read these accounts should create a reaction in us that honors the magnitude of what happened that Friday morning nearly two thousand years ago. The post The Trial of Jesus appeared first on Manchester Church of Christ.

This morning we will learn some helpful strategies that will help us faithfully engage the really overwhelming times in our lives like Jesus did. They’re not new, but they are still effective at helping us find courage in the power of God, to be faithful to the will of God, and to endure because of the promises of God. The post Betrayed appeared first on Manchester Church of Christ.

When we talk to each other as brothers and sisters in Christ, let’s set aside our tester bias, actually listen to each other, ask clarifying and probing questions, and truly get to know each other as real people—not shadow copies built on assumptions about entirely different people. The post Difficult Honesty appeared first on Manchester Church of Christ.

The Cost of Serving, R.H.I.P. is a commonly known acronym which stands for Rank Has Its Privileges. It describes the benefits afforded those who are in positions of authority or power. It highlights the difference between those of lower ranks and stature from their senior leaders. It can be the benefits of a preferred parking spot close to the door of a building or being able to go first in line to get food. In Matthew 20:28, Jesus says “the Son of The post The Cost of Serving appeared first on Manchester Church of Christ.

Mark 14:10-25, The Lord’s Passover Welcome to worship at Manchester! We will be doing the same kinds of things we do every week, but we’ll have a different flow of worship today as we try to stitch everything together and focus on the them of Passover. We’re doing that because our sermon comes from Mark 14:10-25 where we find Jesus sitting down to share the Passover meal with his disciples. As Christians who seldom if ever participate in the Passover meals and The post The Lord’s Passover appeared first on Manchester Church of Christ.

Mark 14:1-11, A Special Blessing Hello, Church. We always have many things to be thankful for, and the grace of being called to worship in peace this morning is near the top of the list. Today we are excited to worship our God together and to celebrate the significant moment that comes the last Sunday in August each year: Promotion Sunday & Sixth Grade Blessing. We have four incoming sixth graders who will now be able to join the Youth Group, and we want The post A Special Blessing appeared first on Manchester Church of Christ.

The End of an Age There have been countless books written and movies made about time and humanity’s desire to control it. Some want to go back in time to see historic events with their own eyes. Others want to go back to change things or have just another hour or two with a loved one. Still others wish for the power to see into the future to know what is coming around the corner, because we seem to think that would give The post The End of an Age appeared first on Manchester Church of Christ.

In His Steps Good morning, Church. Today should be a great but busy day at Manchester. In addition to a special worship service built around the theme of seeking God’s will and following “in his steps,” we’ll also talk at the end of worship about an important survey the whole congregation is asked to take. As you know, until about five years ago, Manchester had three men who worked as full-time ministers. For the moment, I’m the only full-time minister, but The post In His Steps appeared first on Manchester Church of Christ.

We can be thankful that God has brought us together again for a day of praise, remembrance, celebration, and encouragement. Many of our spiritual family are traveling, some are sick, some are homebound, and others are struggling to the point of not rejoining us for worship right now. That’s not a statement of judgment; it’s a statement of compassionate reminder that we need to keep checking in with people so they know they are missed and loved. We never give up on people, and everybody needs to know that. The post A Peek Behind the Curtain appeared first on Manchester Church of Christ.

questions Jesus was asked during a time of intense scrutiny and malicious maneuvering on the part of the Temple authorities. Since the text doesn’t tell us, we can’t know for sure how Jesus felt when the religious leaders of his day continued to try and trap him again and again with his own words, but it surely wasn’t a pleasant experience even for him. The post Traps for the Troublemakers appeared first on Manchester Church of Christ.

The Vineyard of the Lord Good morning, Church family. It’s been a hot, busy week, and it is great to be back in worship with all of you this morning. When I’m able to take a couple of days off like I did last week to enjoy the beauty of God’s nature, I’m so thankful for that time. It’s refreshing to breathe in the forest air and hear waves brush against the shoreline. It’s invigorating to smell the salt sea The post The Vineyard of the Lord appeared first on Manchester Church of Christ.

the moment. Oh so often, those needs include prayers of rescue and deliverance, pleas brought on by pain and grief, and the hopeful cries of help in any number of situations. In those times, we might rightly feel the need for a Jesus who is gentle and restrained in how he deals with us. We need his mercy and his tender touch or else we might just shatter under the weight of it all. The post A Curse and a Cleansing appeared first on Manchester Church of Christ.

In Jeff’s sermon this morning, we’re going to hear about the goodness of God demonstrated in the life of a man who started as a slave but whose dreams came true. As you listen, think about the ways God has already begun blessing you, and dream about the ways God might be working through you in the lives of the next generation. New England needs more dreamers like that, and God is already working through us with even bigger things to come. The post Advice from Joe appeared first on Manchester Church of Christ.

Far too often in our lives we think we know enough to lace up our shoes and take off running toward where we think we need to go. And many of us can think of times when we’ve done that only to later have regrets. As it is written in Proverbs 19:21, “Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand” (ESV). If we don’t commit ourselves to consulting God, we end up leaning too much on our own understanding, and as finite people, we just cannot see far enough down the road to figure things out on our own. The post The Spirit and Will of God appeared first on Manchester Church of Christ.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law” (Galatians 5:22–23). The Apostle Paul wrote those words to a group of Christians who were giving him real trouble. He loved them, but some of them were contradicting the truth of the gospel of grace found in Jesus, and Paul knew how destructive that would be within the community of faith. His response was his letter to the Galatians which The post Who Will We Imitate? appeared first on Manchester Church of Christ.