Our preacher, Mark Stinnett, publishes articles for the church bulletin each week. These articles are designed to teach, encourage and challenge the members of our congregation. His latest articles can be found below with the most recent at the beginning of the list. Mark has archived all of his articles on his personal blog 'MicroMarks' which can be accessed at: micromarks.blogspot.com.
Preacher's Blog
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In Abundance and in Need
Carved into wooden plaques, sewn into Bible covers, printed on posters, and taped to mirrors, this familiar verse is often committed to memory:
I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. —Philippians 4:13 (NASB95)
All too often this passage has been quoted in sermons and books to encourage a positive attitude. It has been used to tell us that we can reach new heights and accomplish great things for the Lord: Success through Jesus.
There is nothing wrong with keeping a positive attitude or being a part of a great effort for the Lord, but I’m quite sure that was not the point.
The Apostle Paul had expressed gratitude to the Christians in Philippi for their generosity. He told them that he was not speaking out of a sense of need, because he had learned the secret of contentment in all circumstance in life.
I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
—Philippians 4:12-13 (NIV)
Contentment is rare in our society. I’m not sure folks have learned how to live in difficult times or in prosperity.
You see, this verse is not about soaring with the eagles with success through Christ. Rather, it is about survival. It calls our attention to the One who provides us strength when our circumstances change for bad or for good. The central thought is that our external circumstances do not provide meaning in life. Our circumstances do not have to rule over us. Yet, many people, even Christians, live in the past as if those really were better days, or they live in the future, never content with their current situation.
Remember the words of Solomon:
There is a time for every event under heaven:
A time to give birth and a time to die;
A time to weep and a time to laugh;
A time to keep and a time to throw away;
A time for war and a time for peace.
(Excerpts from Ecclesiastes 3:1-8)
Circumstances in life change and we should not be surprised. Our hope is in Christ, and our eyes should be trained toward eternity.
Some Christians have learned this valuable lesson of contentment. They know that difficult circumstances do not define them. They remain loyal to Jesus when circumstances take a turn for the worse. They give their anxiety to God. However, there is more to contentment. The Apostle Paul was content, not only in difficult circumstances, but also in times of plenty.
By way of example, ancient Israel often turned to idolatry during times of peace and prosperity. (Read Deuteronomy 8 or the book of Judges.) We should also recognize just how vulnerable we are in times of prosperity. It is then that we can easily fall to the deceptive and alluring ways of this world. For that reason, it is equally important to learn how trust in Jesus and honor God’s instruction in times of peace and prosperity, when things seem to be going our way.
May we find the strength of contentment in Jesus, both in times of need and in times of peace and prosperity.
Mark Stinnett
April 28, 2024
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The Feet Follow the Heart
Mom said it rather tersely, “Straighten your face!” I heard other parents tell their kids, “You need to change your face!”
These strong words were spoken when one of us kids had worn a sad face too long or we were simply pouting (a silent fit of anger). Have you ever wondered how effective this form of correction was? Did this type of correction bring about the desired response? Were the parents who demanded a ‘straight face’ only interested in seeing a face that was not sad or angry? Or was there a more noble desire? Did our parents really desire a change of heart?
Now, as an adult reflecting on my ‘straighten your face’ experiences, I have considered other disciplinary actions. I have asked myself:
- What is more important, a pleasant face, or a heart with the right attitude?
- Is it better to have acceptable behavior, or a heart that desires to do right?
- Should I teach my children to merely refrain from vulgar speech or train their hearts to think pure thoughts that generate wholesome speech?
We all understand that it is the attitude and disposition of the heart that affects one’s face, affects one’s behavior, and affects one’s speech. We all know and teach that Jesus desired a response from the heart, not mere external obedience.
People can fake the externals. People can put on a show by displaying a happy face, maintaining culturally acceptable behaviors, and acceptable speech. Yet, even with the outer display of goodness, the heart can be rotten.
Jesus rebuked the hypocritical Pharisees of his day saying:
These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.
— Matthew 15:8 (NIV)
Parents, this is surely not the result we desire when we correct or discipline our children. We want their hearts to change.
- God wants people with changed hearts.
- Jesus wants people with changed hearts.
- Parents want children with changed hearts.
Did you know that that is what repentance is really all about!?
At the heart of the New Testament word repentance is the idea of a changed mind or changed heart. God knew, and we intuitively know, that changed behavior without a changed heart is hypocritical. In contrast, a change in one’s thinking/attitude will naturally result in changed behaviors. Changed behaviors that are the result of discipline are known as the fruit of repentance. Repentance is always about the heart, about changing one’s perception to truth.
Whether we are correcting our children, or conversing with an unbeliever, or reflecting on our own lives, we must recognize that God desires the heart. We can demand behavioral changes; but even an animal trainer does that.
When the direction of the heart is changed, you can rest assured, the feet will follow.
Mark Stinnett
April 21, 2024
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Pulling Back the Curtain
Most folks enjoy watching a skilled magician or illusionist. We wonder in amazement, “How did he do that!?” Of course, we are also aware of the magicians’ code, that the secret must never be revealed. And yet, we have a natural craving to know, to see for ourselves how things work.
Many people approach life in the same way. Every mystery must be unveiled. Many seem to have adopted the motto from the State of Missouri, “Show Me.” Or, like Dorothy, in the Wizard of Oz, they simply must pull back the curtain to see what there is to see.
There is nothing wrong in wanting to see and understand, in wanting to unravel the mysteries of life. However, when it comes to our Christian faith, we must recognize that God did not reveal everything. In fact, he expects us to live by faith.
Now, this is not a made-up faith, that is, a faith based only on what you want to be true. It is not blind faith, that is, an imagined faith that has no basis in reality. Rather, it is faith based on God’s revelation and his promises.
We must be careful not to identify too closely to Thomas who openly declared, “Unless I see I will not believe.” You might feel as if you can relate to Thomas at some level. However, he refused to believe his fellow apostles who were eyewitnesses of the empty tomb and who had seen the resurrected Christ.
A brazen Show Me attitude can result in scoffing at God’s promises.
The person who demands that the curtain of mystery be drawn back may, like Thomas, question the resurrection of Christ.
A person who demands to satisfy a how-did-he-do-that curiosity may deny the presence and assistance of the Holy Spirit.
When difficulties come, we may be tempted to ask, “Why?” when we do not understand. We instinctively believe that good things should happen to good people, and that bad things should happen to bad people. While that is not unreasonable, we also understand that life is filled with inequities. Life simply is not fair!
Even so, we often want to know...
- Why did God allow that to happen to me?
- Is God testing me?
- Is Satan tempting me?
- Is my difficulty simply an unfortunate event in the natural course of life?
Now, think for a moment...
What if God did answer our question, “Why?” What if we discovered the source of our difficulties in life? Do the answers really change the way we should respond?
Jesus allowed Thomas to pull back the curtain by seeing and touching his scars. Yet He also rebuked the disciples who did not believe those who were eyewitnesses. (Mark 16:14)
We can be glad for the testimony of Thomas (the first Missourian?), but let’s not be like him. It is not seeing that makes one believe, but believing that gives one true insight!
And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of those who seek him.
—Hebrews 11:6
The Bible is God’s testimony about Himself. He has given us a witness for Himself so that we can believe the promises of unseen things yet to be fulfilled. In many ways and on many occasions, God has already pulled back the curtain to reveal Himself to us. We can believe!
Mark Stinnett
April 14, 2024
