Growing In Godliness Blog
Teaching
Preaching in Samaria
Friday, January 31, 2025Preaching in Samaria
By Paul Earnhart
Jesus had a powerful influence on the Samaritan woman whom He met at a well-side. We read of this in John chapter 4 (John 4:5-42). When He first began talking to her, she was so concerned with her task of drawing the water from the well that she was not interested at all in the spiritual water He offered her. But after Jesus had talked to her for a few minutes, after He had demonstrated His supernatural knowledge of her life and had revealed Himself to her as the Messiah, she forgot all about her water pots and went running into the city, saying to her friends: "Come, see a man who told me all things that I ever did. Could this be the Christ?" (John 4:29)
One of the greatest hindrances to true faith in Christ is our preoccupation with material things. We are so busy making a living, providing for our families, looking for a bigger house, trading cars, attending concerts, going to ball games, hunting and fishing, and on and on. And the result is that we just don't have time for Bible study and prayer and Christian service and attendance to worship. We are just too busy.
It is altogether to the credit of this woman that even after Jesus had reminded her of her sinful life, she allowed Him to talk to her. She considered the evidence that He was the Messiah and once she had come to believe in Him, she undertook to share that faith with others. Like Andrew and Philip (John 1:40-46), she did not try to convince them herself; she brought them to Jesus that they might reach their own conclusions.
And the result was remarkable. After they had spent time with Jesus, "They said to the woman, 'Now we believe, not because of what you said, for we have heard for ourselves and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world'" (John 4:42). Jesus is His own best witness. Let us take the time to know Him ourselves; then let us take others to the Scriptures that they may see Him for themselves and know that He is the Christ.
Jesus and John Baptizing
Friday, December 20, 2024Jesus and John Baptizing
By Paul Earnhart
Do you know what envy is? It is one of the ugliest emotions of which we can be guilty. It is displeasure in seeing another person prosper, or in seeing someone else more successful or popular than we are. All one must do to become the object of envy is to do well. Even in the church, individuals who excel in Bible knowledge, or in Christian service, are often the victims of hatred and gossip among other people. Preachers are sometimes guilty of envying other preachers who may be more effective than they are. John the Baptist is a fine example of a preacher who avoided envy.
John 3:22 tells us that after Jesus had spoken with Nicodemus in Jerusalem, He and His disciples came into the land of Judea and there He tarried and baptized. John 4:1 even says that He was making and baptizing more disciples than John. Some of John’s disciples apparently resented this fact, and they came reporting to John what Jesus was doing. John could have been envious, but instead he responded with an illustration in which he spoke of Jesus as the groom in the wedding and of himself as the best man, the groom’s friend and helper. Here is what John said: "A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven. You yourselves bear me witness that I said, He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices because of the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore, this joy of mine is fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease." (John 3:27-30)
John here not only gives us a good example of one who avoided envy, but he also gives us a good example of our role as teachers. Our duty is to bring people to Jesus, not to ourselves. When they meet Jesus, we need to get out of the way quickly and let Him increase while we decrease.
A Salute to the Faithful
Friday, September 06, 2024A Salute to the Faithful
By Norman Pence
Much of the writing, preaching, and visiting that is done today is directed toward the weak and unfaithful. Too often, we do not take time to salute those who are faithful to Christ and His teaching.
There is no sufficient way to show appreciation to those members who have remained “steadfast and unmovable” (1 Cor. 15:58) throughout the years. But you are to be commended for your faithfulness and attendance, even when other activities are taking place that you would normally attend. Whenever work needs to be done, we have come to know that, regardless, you will make the necessary sacrifices to be there and help in any way you can. It is a joy to be around and worship with Christians who display that loving willingness that says, “I am willing to do any and everything I can to help.” Your active desire to grow spiritually has encouraged others to have the same desire. Your love for lost souls has provided ways for many to be taught the truth and become active citizens of the Kingdom of God. Your faithful life has helped weak Christians to wake up, confess faults, and once again become not only hearers of the word, but doers also. You are the ones that constantly encourage the faithful teachers and preachers to remain firm in the truth, and we thank God for people like you.
You are also appreciated because you demand no special attention or praise to keep you happy and faithful in your service and assemblies for Bible study and worship. It’s not necessary for you to have your name mentioned from the pulpit or even written in the bulletin in order for you to make visits, help with the sick and shut-ins, or to invite friends to worship. You count it a blessing to have the opportunity to serve the Lord. You are a shining example to all that see you. And we believe it can be said of you that you are sincerely “seeking first the kingdom of God” (Mt. 6:33).
May God continue to bless you who labor so faithfully. The church will continue to grow because of you. Please don’t give up and thank you for your enduring efforts for Him.
Philip the Evangelist
Friday, August 16, 2024Philip the Evangelist
By David Norfleet
The idea of being heralds or proclaimers of the good news of the kingdom is throughout the New Testament, but there is only one individual who specifically is identified as an “evangelist” and that is Philip (Acts 21:8). Let me offer three simple lessons from Philip’s life that make that description appropriate and worthy of our imitation.
First, Philip is a great example of loving our neighbors. Due to Saul’s persecution, Philip leaves Jerusalem and goes—of all places—to Samaria and starts proclaiming Christ to them (Acts 8:5)! Most Jews would not be caught dead with Samaritans (John 4:7-9; 8:48; Luke 9:51-56), but there Philip is, preaching the good news and baptizing men and women (Acts 8:12). That shows us what the gospel of Christ will do for us—it will open our eyes to the value of a soul irrespective of race, nationality, or stature. Like Philip, we should be willing to share the gospel with anyone as an act of God’s love.
Second, Philip shows us the power of the gospel. He is called “the evangelist” (Acts 21:8). Evangelist means “one who declares the good news.” After declaring the good news to the Samaritans, Philip preaches Christ to the Ethiopian eunuch (Acts 8:26-39). That is what happens all through the book of Acts—preachers present the evidence and build a logical case for Christ—sometimes reasoning and explaining things over a period of weeks and months and years, and because of that, people believed and obeyed. That is what Philip did for the Samaritans (Acts 8:5,12) and for the Ethiopian (Acts 8:35,36). Christianity is not based on blind faith or on a subjective feeling in the heart. It is based upon the inspired word of God! No wonder Paul said, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek” (Romans 1:16). May we learn to trust in the power of the gospel!
Third, Philip shows us that we can grow older and continue the work God has given us to do. Acts 8:40 mentions that he ends up in Caesarea. He disappears from the record until a brief reference in Acts 21:8-14, where Paul and his companions stayed with him for several days. It is here in the record where he’s identified as Philip the evangelist (one who declares the good news) about 20 years after the events of Acts 8. Let’s appreciate that Philip is still evangelizing years later. It’s one thing to start with a bang, and maybe to have a zeal fueled by the events in Acts 8, but what about when the newness wears off? Philip’s longevity serves as a great example to us. Can we do that? Can we not only live for Christ through the years, but also be a proclaimer of His good news? (Especially in our families as Philip must have done as his daughters were prophetesses: Acts 21:9.)
May we imitate Philip, whose love for souls caused him to spread the good news about Jesus to whoever he could for as long as he could.
Jesus Commends Nathaniel
Friday, March 08, 2024Jesus Commends Nathaniel
By Paul Earnhart
When Jesus left Judaea after His baptism, He left with at least five disciples. At first, only two had followed Him: Andrew and an unnamed disciple who was probably John, the author of the gospel. But Andrew brought his brother Simon to Jesus. And in John 1:43 we see Jesus inviting yet another man to go with Him. “The next day He purposed to go forth into Galilee, and He found Philip, and Jesus said to him, ‘Follow Me.’”
Philip did follow Jesus, but before they left Judaea, Philip did exactly what Andrew had done: he went and found someone else to bring to Jesus. John 1:45 reports that “Philip found Nathanael and said to him, ‘We have found Him of whom Moses in the Law and also the Prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.’” Nathanael was at first skeptical, asking, “Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?” But Philip did not argue with Nathanael; he simply said, “Come and see.” (John 1:46) If WE can only get people to COME and SEE Jesus, Jesus will convince them. He is His own best witness.
When Nathanael met Jesus, Jesus did not show resentment because of Nathanael’s reference to Nazareth; and He certainly did not begin an argument with him about His hometown. Rather, Jesus complimented Nathanael by saying, “Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile.” (John 1:47)
We can learn much about the rearing of children from the manner in which Jesus trained His disciples. To Simon, Jesus gave a name which he did not deserve at the time, but one that would challenge him to become what he could become. And to Nathanael He gave a compliment.
Children should never be told that they are bad, even when their conduct is bad. They are basically good, and they need to be constantly reminded of that. Bad conduct is simply inconsistent with the good children they are. And children need to be commended for every good quality they demonstrate and for every good deed they do.