The Church Archives - Chapman Acres

Welcome!

9th April, 2017 · Chapman · Leave a comment

Thank you for picking up and taking the time to read this bulletin! If you are visiting with us from the community or a nearby congregation, we want you to know we are grateful for your presence with us. Your presence is an encouragement to us, and it is our most earnest desire that our worship has been beneficial to you and favorable in the sight of God, our Savior.

If it’s your first time being with us or you are unsure of why we do the things we do, allow us to explain.

The church of Christ at Chapman Acres is an independent, non-denominational group of Christians whose goal is to serve God, the Creator and Savior. Free from the authority of man-made creeds or charters, our only standard is the Bible. Our only model is the church that Jesus established, of which we read in the New Testament. While we pray for and encourage other churches who seek to follow the New Testament pattern, the church at Chapman Acres maintains no organizational ties with other congregations either in our local area or abroad.

The Christians who make up the church are not perfect, but our goal is to live for the One who died for us. We are forgiven sinners who have believed in Jesus Christ, have committed our lives to Him, and have obeyed His command to be immersed in baptism. To us, being a Christian is not about living our way and expecting God to approve of whatever we do. Jesus Christ is Lord and King. However, neither is being a Christian a matter of cold, robotic obedience to laws. Being a Christian is about cultivating a relationship with the Father. Whatever He asks, we lovingly seek to give Him.

Our God-given duty as a group is to spread the Gospel locally and abroad, to encourage the members of the church, and to help Christians who are in spiritual or physical need. We do not provide recreation or entertainment. God has given His church much more important work with eternal consequences. Our job is to help everyone we know be saved.

We read in the New Testament that Christians regularly met together to worship and study. They sang songs in order to praise God and encourage one another. They prayed together. They contributed financially to the work of the church. Teaching and Bible reading were essential parts of their activities. In addition, we read that they regularly met on the first day of the week to observe the Lord’s Supper and remember the sacrifice that makes it all possible. These simple, spiritual activities are what you will find at Chapman Acres.

We would love for you to visit with us. You will find a friendly greeting, reverent worship, group Bible study, and teaching from the Bible. Feel free to contact us if you wish to study with any of the men or women of the church at a place of your choice. Our prayer is that you dedicate yourself to the Lord and seek His will. We will help in any way we can.

[This description of the saints which meet at Chapman Acres can be found, along with much more information, at www.chapmanacres.org.]

In addition to finding more information about the church that worships and works together here in Huntsville through our website, you can also “like” our page on Facebook (Chapman Acres church of Christ), and stay connected with us through that medium.

Not only will you be able to keep up with the news at Chapman Acres, but it will also give you an opportunity to think on spiritual things throughout the day, as we often try to place thought-provoking and spiritually-engaging posts.

Again, thank you for visiting us and taking the time to read this. Please do not hesitate to let us know how we can help you draw nearer to God.

The Christians at Chapman Acres

In addition to welcoming our guests from the community and other congregations we also want to extend a warm welcome to our brother and special guest, Steve Klein.

We have been looking forward to this week for some time and have been praying for the success of the Gospel through this effort. We thank you for coming our way and anticipate your lessons from the word of God. God bless, brother!

“So [we] sent to you immediately, and you have done well to come. Now therefore, we are all present before God, to hear all the things commanded you by God.”

Acts 10:33

Beyond Acts 2:41

11th March, 2017 · Chapman · Leave a comment

The gospel was preached (Acts 2:14-36). Some of the hearers believed what was preached (Acts 2:37). These believers were told what to do to receive the salvation, which comes only from the Lord (Acts 2:38). The hearers were encouraged to respond to the word of Almighty God (Acts 2:39-40). Three thousand souls obeyed the gospel call by submitting to water baptism (Acts 2:41). Every authentic Christian should be able to recall this story for several reasons: 1) The plan has not changed, 2) They followed this same pattern in order to become a Christian, 3) Acts 2 is pregnant with vital information from answering basic questions about salvation to exposing the false views of Pentecostalism, & 4) This is the history of the church of our Lord; the history of the church of which they are members. Unfortunately, it appears knowledge & practice has ceased beyond Acts 2:41.

Acts 2:42 is a verse which addresses the church’s responsibility of service. This Scripture helps us to understand our duty as members of a local congregation. Listen to your Bible! In Acts 2:42, the Bible teaches, “And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching & the fellowship, to the breaking of bread & the prayers.” Devote means “to dedicate one’s self to a cause.” Christians are devoted people.

Christians devote themselves to the apostles’ teaching. It is through reading & studying we serve ourselves, which in turn serves God, our brethren, & the world through the means of worship, fellowship, & evangelism (1 Timothy 4:13, 2 Timothy 2:15, & 2 Timothy 3:16-17).
Christians devote themselves to the fellowship. It is through the sharing of Christ’s blessings we serve the brethren. It is because of our relationship with God & our brethren’s relationship with God that we have fellowship with one another. This relationship should run deep for several reasons: 1) We are now children of God by faith (Galatians 3:26), 2) We are workers together with a common goal (1 Corinthians 3:9), & 3) We have been transformed by the renewing of our minds (Romans 12:1-2). We should draw strength by our coming together & not seek ways to avoid one another.
Christians devote themselves to the breaking of bread. It is through worship we serve God. Love sent outward is called affection. Love sent downward is called grace. Love sent upward is called worship. Communing with God with brethren of like precious faith is not something we do out of duty or convenience, but because of gratitude & love (1 Thessalonians 5:18). It is the will of God!
Christians devote themselves to prayer. God talks to us through His word, but we talk to God through prayer. What is the subject of our supplication to God? Are our prayers totally selfish or do we pray for the salvation of those who are lost? Do we pray for opportunities to reach out? Do we pray for God to touch the hearts of those who do not know our God & have yet to obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ knowing what their end will be if they don’t (2 Thessalonians 1:8)?

By Antoine Holloway

The Mission of the Church

26th February, 2017 · Chapman · Leave a comment

While at the church building one day, I received a phone call from a middle-aged man who was in financial trouble. It seems he and his family had made some poor decisions and wanted help. I told him that the church did not have a fund for those who are not members of the church but did help out those who were members. I asked, “Are you a Christian?” He answered defensively, “No, but . . . you are a church. How dare you not help us out! What kind of church are you anyway?” I interrupted by saying we would be happy to help him with what we did have. His self-righteous, “you owe me a living” speech stopped. I invited him to come to the building with his family and we would sit down together to study the Bible. I told him that I wanted to share with him the precious message of salvation. The Lord did not tell the church to be a general benevolence society but did want His church to “sound forth” His word as did the Thessalonians (1 Thess.1:8). I asked him, “when would you like to get together to talk about the gospel of Christ?” Our conversation ended abruptly with “so . . . uh . . . you’re not going to help us?

The original purpose of God for His church was spiritual in nature. When Jesus wrote to the seven churches of Asia in Rev.2-3, He chose the figure of “lampstands” to describe them. Each congregation of God’s people is to shine forth the light of Jesus Christ to the world. In Paul’s first letter to the church at Corinth, he told of their teaching God’s word, relating with one another in various situations, using spiritual gifts properly and believing in the resurrection. This is consistent with all the other letters and books we find in the New Testament. All were to teach the truth and build up each other spiritually. Even in chapter 16 when Paul discussed helping the needy, he talked specifically about those who where needy saints, not those in the world. When Jesus described His kingdom to Pilate, He said, “My kingdom is not of this world” (Jn.18:36). Jesus’ mission was spiritual in nature; “to seek and to save that which was lost” (Lk.19:10). Paul wrote the first letter to Timothy so that he might know how he was to conduct himself in the house of God, “which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth” (1 Tim.3:15). Peter described the church as a “spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (1 Pet.2:5). As Paul spoke of the work of the church at Thessalonica, he said, “from you the word of the Lord has sounded forth” (1 Thess.1:8). The fact is God gave His church a vital, urgent, eternally valuable role to fulfill — to spread the blessed gospel of Christ to the world and to edify the saints so that each might grow up to maturity. The only time we find the New Testament church involved with helping out the needy financially is when a need arose among the saints because of some distress. If we are going to be faithful to the charge of God as His church, we must be careful not only to follow the details of His will but, even more importantly, to be committed to the main principles of what our mission is all about.

The “social gospel” began in the 1800s during a time of developing social conscience in this country. Labor unions and other organizations were formed to deal with social injustices. At the same time, many in the religious world were beginning to question and even deny the inspiration of the Bible. It followed that if belief in the inspiration of the Bible was eroding, then the ideas of salvation from sin, eternal life and eternal damnation began to fade away also. The mission of Jesus, and therefore the religious world, was twisted into a social reform movement. The emphasis changed from saving man from his sins to helping man cope with this life to bring about a utopia on this earth.

This movement has had a lasting effect on the religious world and has even affected those who have been striving to restore New Testament Christianity. From the 1950’s to the present, churches calling themselves “of Christ” have jumped onto the bandwagon of the social gospel. There is a “Church of Christ Disaster Relief Fund” dedicated to respond to natural disasters on the behalf of the “Church of Christ”. There are “Church of Christ” retirement homes, hospitals, orphans homes, family life centers, gymnasiums, racket ball courts, day care centers, schools, medical missions and “fellowship” halls. All of these pervert the purpose for which God established His church. As individuals, we need to respond to the needs of others as opportunity and ability allow but the Lord’s church has a more specific charter and is to respond to a more urgent need. This is a need that has eternal consequences, a disaster that has been self-inflicted on literally billions of souls – sin. We have the answer: the message of Jesus.

Some seek to justify the giving of food for the belly, games for teens and entertainment for all ages to get people in their doors so that they can convert them with the gospel. Jesus didn’t play these games. When He performed a miracle to prove His Divinity and some followed because of the food, Jesus rebuked them sharply (John 6). If we convert people with hot dogs, they will leave when the hot dogs are gone. The gospel is God’s power to save (Rom.1:16). It is what convicts our hearts of sin, righteousness and the judgment to come (John 16:7-13). If someone is truly interested in his relationship with God, he will be attracted by the gospel. We have a choice to make. Do we follow the movements of men or the word of the Lord? Let us follow the dictates of God that each local group of Christians may be a lampstand holding forth the word of truth in the midst of a lost and dying world.

By Jeff Archer

Simply Christians

22nd May, 2016 · Chapman · Leave a comment

We read with interest the reports on every hand of the growing disenchantment with present religious forms which originated in the Middle Ages and have become meaningless. We hear of displeasure with denominational structures and their pronouncements which reflect only the preferences of influential elite, ignoring the convictions of the rank and file. Because of these aspects of modern religion, some have decided that Christianity is not even relevant to this day and age. We believe they have so decided because they are not sufficiently acquainted with the scriptures to be able to distinguish between the relevant gospel of Christ, and the things men have added to religion since, and which truly are not relevant to serving God.

If some of these things have troubled you, and you have felt an urge, or even a yearning, to return to the simple uncomplicated religion of Christ, and if you have felt the desire to strip away all non-essential elements of religion and simply abide by the truths of Christ, truths which alone can transform the soul and bind it to God, let us suggest that such a possibility actually exists.

Let us begin with one essential fact. Jesus Christ is the Son of God. His coming (Gen. 49:10), His mission (Is. 53; Zech. 6:13), and His new message (Jer. 31:31-33) were all foretold in the Old Testament, which Jehovah used to govern Israel until the Christ should come and establish the New for all mankind (Gal. 3:19)!

The New Testament is the word of Christ. It reveals the religion of Christ (Heb. 9:15-17). By studying it we become aware that among the followers of Christ no denominational organizations have existed whatsoever. All such began at a later time. We see people hearing the gospel and in faith obeying the conditions of God’s grace. That is, they turned to God and were baptized in order to be forgiven of their sins. Being thus saved, they were added to the Lord’s people, or church (Acts 2:36-47). As the gospel spread, we find them assembling together in congregations in various localities. Each congregation was under its own elders (Acts 14:23) and no one else on earth. These elders could not make laws or be masters. They were given the responsibility of tending and caring for the congregation as shepherds would a flock (Acts 20:17,28; 1Pet. 5:1-3)! The only headquarters those disciples knew was heaven, where their head Jesus Christ was and is (Eph. 1:22-23).

Their worship was something to participate in, not something to watch. On the first day of the week, for instance, they would eat the Lord’s Supper and hear preaching (Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 11:23-29). They would share their mutual responsibilities by sharing their prosperity, and we find contributions being collected on no other day than the first day of the week (1 Cor. 16:1-2). Incidentally, no hierarchy could tax them or tell them how much to give. They had no organizations clamoring for their support. They gave as they individually purposed in their own heart (2 Cor. 9:6-7). In their assemblies they all would sing (Eph. 5:19), and all pray with various ones leading (1 Cor. 14:15-16). In all this they were all necessarily involved, for each saved person was a priest (Rev. 1:5-6). No one could perform his service or worship for him.

They lived godly lives. They cared for their poor. They taught others. They sent out preachers where they could not go. With simplicity of faith and fervor there was no need of centralization. Without organized machinery the gospel was preached throughout civilization in a short time (Col. 1:23). These disciples of Christ were known as Christians (Acts 11:26; 26:28; 1 Pet. 4:16). They wore no sectarian names. Their religion was not sensual or materialistic. They sought not to impress men with pious ceremony. They sought to impress God with the only thing that has ever impressed him, contrite obedience (1 Sam. 15:22). Their appeal was not social or recreational. They offered the gospel to a troubled world for it was God’s power to save (Rom. 1:16), and any other appeal was beneath them. ”

If only such could be today,” many say. But it is! Free men and women over the earth have despaired of denominationalism, seeing in it no necessity or relevance and only a cause of division. They desire the simplicity of what Christ authored. They are related and connected only in Christ and not in some earthly organization.

A group of such people meets within minutes of where you live. We are just Christians. We worship and serve God in the same way as the early disciples. Christ is our only creed and the Scriptures our only guide. We are not members of any human denomination, but simply a congregation, or church, of Christ. We would like thus to share Christ with you and with the entire world.

You too can be just a Christian and serve God without belonging to any denomination, bound by no denominational laws or obligations. If such freedom appeals to you, please visit with us, or contact us.

By Dale Smelser

Which Ones Have You Encouraged?

15th May, 2016 · Chapman · Leave a comment

The Lord’s church is composed of both strong and weak members. Each one needs encouragement at times, but certainly the weaker brethren need a greater amount of special attention. Also, there are some members who are not necessarily weak, but who have special physical problems, causing them to need special attention. The apostle Paul taught that the responsibility of helping the weaker members rested upon the shoulders of those who were mature, full-grown Christians (Romans 15:1; Galatians 6:1-2). In the minds of some, this type of responsibility is the work of the elders, deacons, or preachers. Indeed it is; but the instruction is given to all Christians. Sometimes elders and preachers are negligent. Sometimes there is simply more work to be done than a limited number of men can accomplish. Which ones have you encouraged?

Some Members Are Forsaking the Assembling of the Saints

This sign of weakness is obvious to any mature Christian. It takes no special training or skills to make a phone call, write a note, or drop by for a short visit to say, “I’ve missed you.” Would it be presumptuous to say almost all Christians could render service in this area?

Some Members Are Attending Without the Support (Perhaps With the Hindrance) Of Their Spouse

A mother rises early on Sunday morning to prepare breakfast and dress the children to get them to Bible class; and they leave home with the father still in bed. Sometimes the fathers have the same problem, leaving the mother at home. All recognize the special problems faced by such parents, admire their effort, and are encouraged by their faithful attendance under less than ideal circumstances. Are we not obliged to reciprocate some type of encouragement to these faithful parents?

Some Members Are Presently Experiencing Family Problems

There are parents who are struggling with a rebellious child. There are married couples who are experiencing serious problems, perhaps resulting from an immature spiritual life. There are adults who have aging parents who are sick or confined, and demand much of their time and attention. In many cases, an encouraging word may be all that can be offered. Who offers it?

Some Members Are Facing Problems Associated With Aging

The elderly and widows find it more and more difficult to do the basics, such as driving to services, shopping at the market, visiting with others, etc. Many live alone, without the encouragement or support of a faithful companion. Encouragement may be extended both verbally and actively.

This list could go on and on, but the initial question would remain the same, namely, “Which ones have you encouraged?” As the members of a congregation consider one another, the opportunities to serve are abundant. Christians may avoid the question for the present, but one day all will stand and give an answer.

By David Thomley

Count It Joy

As humans, we have a tendency to ask “why” when we experience difficulties in our lives. We may look at a situation as being the victim. God gives insight on how to handle these situations so that we may look at them as being a victor. We can expect experience difficulties as a Christian. After all, Jesus, the apostles and first century Christians endured hard times. James tells us how to approach these times in chapter 1.

We must first embrace the trial and count it joy (v.2). Jesus said that we will have trials (John 16:33), so we should not be caught off guard when they occur. These trials may be caused by satan, the world, our family and even brethren. Peter tells us not to be surprised by these trials, but to rejoice in them (1 Peter 4:12-13). Rejoicing occurred after suffering persecution for the cause of the gospel (Acts 5:41). These times bring about perseverance (Romans 5:3). We should look at the difficulty and thank God while adopting a joyful attitude when trials occur. Persecution, in whatever form it may be, is a part of Christianity and when we suffer for Jesus, we should look at it as a good thing, especially since He suffered for us.

In verse 3, James says that the testing of our faith produces endurance. Just as athletes train for their sport, we must train for Christianity. Faith tested brings out the best in us if we remain focused on God. Trials help us mature as Christians. If we never have these, then we expect everything will be easy and as a result, we do not grow stronger. Endurance denotes the ability to have consistency in the face of adversity. We must stand firm with God, no matter what is thrown at us. Testing can work for us, not against us (2 Corinthians 4:17).

Endurance must have its perfect result (verse 4). Too often, we want the hard times to be over with immediately. Instead of complaining or questioning God, we should simply endure it. We learn to continue to seek God’s will during the hard times.

Lastly, we must look to God for wisdom (verse 5). Wisdom is demonstrated when we take what Scripture says and apply it to our own lives. We must look to the One who is all knowing for guidance. Persistency must characterize our prayer life. Especially in times of difficulty, we should become more dependent on God, looking to Him for strength, guidance and comfort. James tells us to ask God in faith, without doubting (verse 6).

Seeing trials as an opportunity to rejoice is contrary to what the world thinks. Christianity is about seeking to please God. It is about humbling ourselves in good times and in difficult times. Christians are commanded to have a joy in all circumstances of life. This joy occurs because, no matter what we endure, we have the hope of heaven.

By Randy Case Jr.

Welcome

3rd April, 2016 · Chapman · Leave a comment

[This description of the saints which meet at Chapman Acres can be found, along with much more information, at www.chapmanacres.org.]

Again, thank you for visiting us and taking the time to read this. Please do not hesitate to let us know how we can help you draw nearer to God.

The Christians at Chapman Acres

In addition to welcoming our guests from the community and other congregations we also want to extend a warm welcome to our brother and special guest, Greg Chandler.

“So [we] sent to you immediately, and you have done well to come. Now therefore, we are all present before God, to hear all the things commanded you by God.”

Acts 10:33