Chris' Corner - Sunday, May 3, 2020
61 years ago, today, the River Road congregation started. You can read a detailed history of the congregation on our website: rrchurchofchrist.org.
Christians throughout the years faced hurdles of one kind or another. They were able to overcome whatever challenge was before them. With God's help, they survived and surpassed whatever it was that might have kept them back.
Hopefully, we are near the end of yet another hurdle. Being confined during this natural disaster of the coronavirus, may have set us back in some ways, but it has not kept us down. Our continued prayers to God, and the good grace He has bestowed upon us, so far have kept our congregation away from the direct effects of the illness. To Him we give all honor, praise, and our most sincere gratitude.
As we enter our 62nd year, it will be good for us to think about and apply the lessons we've learned from these unprecedented last few months.
First, we will no longer take for granted the fellowship we have with one another. When we became Christians, we were placed into the body of Christ—the church. We came into a precious fellowship with God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit. This makes us all one in Christ and the family of God where we enjoy fellowship with one another.
Being apart from each other has helped us to appreciate what we have with our church family. How thankful we are for this bond of love.
Paul expressed it this way, "l thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now... Therefore, if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind" (Philippians 1:3-5 ; 2:1-2).
Second, we have come to appreciate the leadership of our elders and the struggles they shoulder on our behalf. Under normal conditions in the work of the church, we may not think so much about the specific pressures the elders have. But over these past several weeks we have learned to keep Roger and Bob in our daily prayers.
They need our support and respect. Not to mention, this is commanded of us. Paul wrote, "Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct...Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you" (Hebrews 13: 7, 17).
Third, we have been introduced to many new opportunities to preach the gospel and edify our brethren. Technology has played an important part in our service to God. We've been using it for many things over the years. Now we see how useful it can be in the work of the kingdom. We need to tap into the talents of our younger generation who are more savvy in these areas than some of us are. Everyone in the body has a useful function and part to do (1 Corinthians 12)