The Invitation

On one occasion a dad tried to stop a couple of boys who were running in the auditorium after church services. The words from one boy were sharp, yet true; disrespectful, but undeniable. Offering only a quick glance as he slowed down, not stopping, one of the boys quipped, “I don’t have to do what you say; you’re not my dad.”

The dad reflected on his own generation. When he was young He would have stopped. He would have shown respect. He would have stopped and answered with humility, “Yes, sir.” He would have at least recognized that the man was like his dad.

The dad stood looking on in silent thought as the two boys ran on.
____________

On one occasion God sent his son to earth. Everyone was busy, running all over the place. The son explained the ways of his Father. Some quit running around and stopped and listened and followed. The son sat and ate with those people and taught them and invited them to come home with him to his Father.

Others offered only a quick glance as they slowed down, not really stopping, not really listening, but only a quick, “I don’t have to do what you say….”

In time, the Son went home…

     His invitation still extended…

          He said he would visit once again…

               But only to take his followers home.

                    His followers recognize that the

                         Son is just like the Father.
____________

To a group of unbelievers Jesus, the Son, once said:

"My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they shall never perish; and no one shall snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. I and the Father are one."

—John 10:27-30

Most who read this have stopped and listened and followed. Yet the path is challenging. A follower must never exchange Jesus for a decoy, must resist copycats and deceivers.

Even followers can forget how to slow down and listen. Don’t let the business of life and children and grandchildren and holidays get in the way of Jesus. The risk? Adopting a different father of your own making.

Jesus is the exact representation of God, our Father. Let’s keep our focus.

And for anyone reading this who does not follow Jesus, who is your father? We all listen to someone. We all stop for something. We all follow someone or something, even if it is oneself.

As for Jesus...the invitation to follow is still extended…

Mark Stinnett

November 9, 2025

What Do I Do?

The movie was about a politician who was an underdog in an upcoming election. It focused on all the facets of running for office, and as you might guess, he won. Various camera angles captured the great celebration in a ballroom full of supporters. The movie ended with our politician-hero, with fear in his eyes, desperately pulling his campaign manager aside, “What do I do now?”

Sometimes people are fully engaged in an idea, but not quite sure what to do. It’s one thing to support, agree, pledge, and even immerse oneself in an idea. But the time comes to ‘do.’

John the Baptist was sent by God to preach. He wasn’t a city preacher but lived and preached in the wilderness areas of Judea. People came to John to hear him preach. Many embraced his teaching, some became disciples. Excitement was running high because of John’s message:

“Repent! For the kingdom of God is at hand.”

Some who came to John were insincere. So, he confronted them saying, “Therefore bear fruits in keeping with repentance….” (Luke 3:8) Those who were sincere asked, “What shall we do?” John instructed them to share their abundance with those in need.

The kingdom of God was not an idea but real. It was not some kind of idealistic philosophy; it was a kingdom with a real king and real citizens. The people understood that in God’s kingdom there was a certain way of life; it was God’s kingdom. So, theirs was a natural question: “What do we do?” They wanted to know how to prepare for the coming of God’s kingdom. There were expectations; there was expected behavior.

Even with John’s general instruction, some wanted to know more specifically about their circumstances. Two candidates for the kingdom of God asked John what they needed to do. To the tax collectors, he instructed that they sould collect only what they were supposed to collect. To the soldiers, he instructed that they should not take money by force, should not make false accusations, and should be content with their wages.

Jesus came after John the Baptist with the same message: “Repent! For the kingdom of God is at hand.” He also taught people what they should do.

Here are some general instructions that apply to Jesus’ followers:

You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.

You shall love your neighbor as your self.

Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.

And what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God.

Can you apply these instructions to your circumstances? Look at each of these teachings and apply sincere thought to your life. Ask, “How does the Golden Rule apply to me in my home, at my workplace, and elsewhere?”

Did you know that there is specific instruction for husbands, for wives, for children, for church leaders, for preachers, and others.

God has not thrown together a rulebook. Rather, He has communicated His identity and character to mankind. He has communicated what he expects of the citizens of His kingdom. 

What is your attitude? 

God has not left us wondering what to do. 

So, listen!

Mark Stinnett

October 19, 2025

Starting from Scratch

You are not really interested in my sermon prep but stick with me. This was an accidental eye-opener for me that may impact your personal study.

The text was 1 Corinthians 9 where the Apostle Paul wrote: “To the weak I became weak that I might win the weak.” I wondered if the same Greek term for weak was used in James 5:14, a difficult verse which had been part of a recent study. I looked and discovered that the word was the same.

At that point I began to wonder how I could work this newly found gem into my sermon. It would support my long-held belief involving a controversial interpretation of James 5:14. After a few failed attempts it suddenly struck me that “I” had gotten in the way of Scripture with my purpose. I let myself guide Scripture instead of Scripture guiding me!
So, what is the point?

When studying the Bible the baggage of life that we each carry can become a distraction. That may include past teaching by parents, friends, trusted preachers, beloved authors, etc. Our perceptions can be tainted by the thinking of our society in our location at our time in history. It can be difficult to approach Scripture with a clear and unbiased mind.

I vividly remember beginning a study on the biblical teaching of baptism. Before opening my Bible and starting from scratch, I prayed for insight and for the ability to be honest with Scripture. I made a personal vow to God that I would follow the text of scripture and that I would change my views and my teachings where necessary. My prayer frightened me. I realized it such an approach would be the moment of truth thinking, “What if…?”

What if I discovered that I had been wrong all these years? How could I face my parents and close relatives? How could I continue preaching and teaching at the same congregation? What would I say to my wife and children?

On one occasion Jesus said:

Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. 

--Matthew 10:34

He was not talking about a literal sword and fighting. Rather, he spoke about the cost of discipleship. Just a few verses later He added:

He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. (verses 37-38)

When reading and studying God’s word we cannot merely rest on the understanding from parents, friends, preachers, authors, or anyone else. We must engage in our own independent study. The result may be that we have to turn loose of teachings and conclusions from our past. It may mean clarifying teachings that have not been fully understood. We are each responsible for our understanding of the Bible. So, whether it is a passage of text like 1 Corinthians 9, a topic like baptism, or a question on a current social issue, mom and dad must not stand in the way of God’s word. Trusted people and fine Bible resources must not stand in the way of God’s word. And certainly, “I” must not stand in the way of God’s word. Ultimately, we must each start from scratch in our journey with the Lord.

That is not to say that we can trust no one in our study. Rather, it is to emphasize one’s personal responsibility in his study and his response to God. Only with sincerity and devotion will you be counted worthy of Jesus.


Mark Stinnett

March 16, 2025

Pursuing Christ

Folks say that when pursued, there is a natural fight or flight response in animals and humans.

One of my children had hurt one of her sisters. As soon as I was told, I was angry and I immediately sprang to action. I can still hear my thoughts, “Where is she; we are going to deal with this right now!” In this case, I was in hot pursuit.

In a jealous rage King Saul threw a spear at David in hopes of killing him. King Saul’s jealousy stemmed from David’s popularity as Israel’s beloved warrior. David had to run for his life. However, King Saul discovered David’s hideout and took his army to destroy him. He was in hot pursuit of David; the hunter in pursuit of the hunted. (Read about this in 1 Samuel 18-24.)

A word was used in New Testament to describe one who is in pursuit of another: persecutor. Examples from Ancient Greek literature include a hunter chasing after his prey, or someone avenging the murder of another. In a legal context the same word was used for a prosecutor.

When “I” am the one being pursued, the terms persecutor and prosecutor seem quite fitting.

Jesus taught his followers:

Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven.

—Matthew 5:44-45

Enemies are those who are hostile toward you. They may not carry pitchforks and torches, wave swords, or fire guns, but they have turned against you. They may not physically chase after you, but they persecute you. They are in pursuit!

Jesus asked his disciples to do something that was unnatural and difficult. It is easy to make rationalizations and skip over His teaching:
“Love my enemies!?”
“Pray for those who are in hot pursuit of me!?”
“Absurd! They don’t deserve it! I’m the victim.”
“How can anyone be expected to follow through on such a teaching?”

Most of us can think of a time when we could have been described as a persecutor; perhaps like the parent-child illustration. It is my guess that whenever we are the one in hot pursuit, we believe that we are justified in our action.

Now, consider a question:
Is it possible that when we have been persecuted, the persecutor believes they are justified? Even in a fit of jealous rage, it is possible that they just don’t realize what they are doing?

These questions are raised, not to imply that an evil person is not responsible for their sin, but to lead us to the solution that Jesus chose, a solution motived by love:

And when they came to the place called The Skull, there they crucified Him and the criminals, one on the right and the other on the left. But Jesus was saying, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” 

—Luke 23:33-34

Jesus, the Son of God, put into practice the very words he taught. As Christians, we are children of God. For that reason, we ought to have the same attitude as our older Brother, Jesus. 

But how?

When we set our gaze on the cross of Christ, we will be able to see souls instead of the pain we feel from others. We will recognize that the difficulties that our enemies cause pale in comparison to what the enemies of Jesus did. When we die to ourselves and surrender to King Jesus, we will draw strength and courage from Jesus to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. It is ultimately dependent on what we chase in life.

May we choose to pursue the character of Christ.


Mark Stinnett

February 11, 2024

Because of Me

Jesus said, "Come, follow me."

Have you ever known anyone who took personal responsibility for their ball team’s loss because they forgot to wear their lucky cap or they washed their team jersey? They bemoan their teams loss, “because of me.”

Focus on that phrase, because of me. It suggests cause and effect. My example might seem silly, but, we know that there are many outcomes in life that are because of me. Good or bad, those outcomes are the direct result of something we did or a choice we made.

With that in mind, I want to think about something Jesus said:

Blissful are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.

—Matthew 5:11

It is easy to read this and think that any persecution I encounter is because of my choice in following Jesus. There is truth in that thought, but that is not what Jesus said. He said, “...because of Me.”

We have no trouble understanding the phrase in the natural course of life. For example, as a teen, did you ever go along with a friend’s idea only to get into trouble? If your friend was a true friend they might have apologized saying, “I know that you chose to go along with me on this, but it was my idea. It’s all my fault. We got into trouble because of me.”

Now, let’s look at Jesus’ beatitude in a similar way...just to focus on the meaning of the phrase, because of Me. Jesus was telling His followers that as a direct result of following Him they could/would suffer hardship. But he made it clear that the suffering was not simply because of the choice His followers made; it was directly connected to Him, because of Him.

Some people refuse to believe in Jesus. Others embrace Jesus, but only partially. They like love and service, however, holiness and righteousness are not attractive. Those who reject Jesus or reject His teachings often also reject those who truly believe in Jesus.

So, what did Jesus do or say or demand that would cause people to persecute His followers?

Unless you believe that I am He [the Son of God], you will die in your sins. 

—John 8:24

I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. 

—John 14:6

Unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and the Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.

—Matthew 5:20

Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven.

—Matthew 7:21

If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. 

—Luke14:26

If you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions. 

 —Matthew 6:15

We might experience verbal abuse or far worse for our faith in Jesus. Ironically, when we suffer because of Jesus, we find bliss.

Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. 

—Matthew 5:12

Mark Stinnett

February 20, 2022

Christian Baptism in the First Century A.D.

John the Baptist did not explain baptism. Jesus did not explain baptism. The gospel writers did not explain baptism. Yet, the Jews at the time of Jesus clearly understood something about baptism, but what?

All four gospel writers write about John the Baptist preparing the way for the Messiah through his preaching. (That was a fulfillment of a prophecy from Isaiah.) Those who were baptized by John became his disciples. So, baptism was the beginning point of one’s discipleship.

Some scholars think that John’s baptism developed from the purification washings in the Law of Moses. However, John received his instruction from God.

The next day he saw Jesus coming to him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! This is He on behalf of whom I said, ‘After me comes a Man who has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me.’ I did not recognize Him, but so that He might be manifested to Israel, I came baptizing in water.”
John testified saying, “I have seen the Spirit descending as a dove out of heaven, and He remained upon Him. I did not recognize Him, but He who sent me to baptize in water said to me, ‘He upon whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining upon Him, this is the One who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.’”
--John 1:29–33 (NASB95)

While John's baptism was not copied from Jewish purification washings, there was a parallel: John was “preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins” (Mark 1:4). So, baptism also had a connection to purification.

Putting these things together, it appears that the Jews at the time of Jesus already associated baptism with purification and discipleship. For that reason we do not read explanations for baptism. Nor do we read of objections to baptism. In other words, those who wanted to be disciples of John did not argue about baptism or refuse to be baptized. Baptism was naturally understood to be associated with discipleship and purification.

Later, just before the resurrected Jesus ascended to heaven, He sent his apostles out to preach the gospel with instructions to “make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.” There was no further explanation of baptism by Jesus, and the apostles did not question Him or protest baptism. (See Matthew 28.)

On the Day of Pentecost when Peter preached the first gospel sermon and instructed believers to “repent and be baptized for forgiveness of sins” there was no further explanation; no questions; no arguments. (See Acts 2.)

It is not until we begin reading the letters to the early church that we find additional information regarding the meaning and relevance of the baptism that Jesus had instructed, i.e. Christian baptism. Paul gave a detailed explanation of baptism in Romans 6. One might wonder if he was clearing up some confusion, or simply explaining things more clearly to those without a Jewish background. Whatever the case, it is illuminating and applicable to all Christians.

So, what is the point?

When you read the New Testament you are sure to see that baptism was taught and instructed by Jesus and His apostles. Yet, you never read about people questioning baptism or arguing about the relevance of baptism.

The questions and arguments about baptism appeared in church history after the first century, after the apostles' writings. New innovations came after the New Testament writings; innovations such as infant baptism; pouring and sprinkling instead of immersion; and specific rules on who, how and when baptism could be performed.

All of this leads to a simple question: “Why can’t we return to the simple instruction of Jesus and the Apostles?”

Folks today might not understand the meaning and relevance of Christian baptism. Yet, the instruction of Jesus, the example of the apostles, and the teaching of the New Testament writers provide clarity. In addition, there is overwhelming testimony for the importance of baptism in the many examples of baptism in the Book of Acts. Baptism was the beginning point of true discipleship and purification and it still is.

Let’s get back to the Bible.

Mark Stinnett

Would You Give Someone a Drink?

Not everyone can go overseas as a missionary. Not everyone can give up a career to preach. Not everyone is equipped to teach. Christians are not able to serve in the same way.

Some Christians serve in a visible way when we all assemble for worship or Bible study. Others serve in ways that are mostly invisible to fellow Christians.

We are not all created with the same abilities and interests. In fact, our individual abilities change over time. So, what is a Christian to do?

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
—Ephesians 2:10

Before the first disciple of Christ was called, God had already planned for his people to do good works. In fact, we are crafted by God for the purpose of good works. Good works are seen as a direct result of having been saved by the grace of God. In addition, the Bible tells us that we formerly walked in “trespasses and sins,” but are now expected to walk in good works. He is moving us from a life of selfishness to a life of selflessness.

So, what is a Christian supposed to do?

Do we really need to ask? Do you remember the man who wanted to justify himself when Jesus taught “Love your neighbor as yourself”? Are we tempted to ‘justify’ ourselves by asking, “And what good works are we to do?”

Jesus made a remarkable statement about discipleship that relates to this question:

"And whoever in the name of a disciple gives to one of these little ones even a cup of cold water to drink, truly I say to you he shall not lose his reward."
—Matthew 10:42

To give something in the name of a disciple is, by extension, giving in the name of the disciple’s teacher. Prior to this verse Jesus had explained that “He who receives you [His disciple], receives Me and he who receives Me, receives Him who sent Me [God].”

From time to time my wife and I have reflected on couples we know who have had a profound influence on us. When thinking about these few couples we agree, “We want to be like them.” We see their godly example, their good works, their tireless service, their devotion to God and His word.

There are things we have done to specifically follow ‘their’ example. ‘They’ are our motivation. In short, we have done things “in the name of a disciple” of Jesus. So, even though we may be thinking of our ‘example couples,’ it all goes back to Christ. When we follow their example, we are following Christ because they are following Christ.

Now, back to Matthew 10:42...why give a cup of cold water?

Perhaps it is as simple as this: Someone needs a drink.

May God open our eyes to the needs of people and give us the courage and motivation to fill those needs by engaging in good works. Ultimately, our service is all to His glory.

Mark Stinnett

Why the First Believers Were Baptized (Part 1)

My previous seven blogs have focused on reasons that some believers have given for being baptized. In each case the reason was found to lack biblical support. Yet, as noted in the first blog on the subject, the reason a person is baptized is vitally important. That leads to a very important question:

Recognizing that the first believers in Jesus were baptized and that baptism was in some way associated with salvation, why were they baptized?

Let’s begin with the instructions that Jesus gave His apostles after His resurrection and before He ascended to heaven. (It is commonly called the Great Commission.)

And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”      —Matthew 28:18–20

Jesus gave His apostles three basic instructions:

• Make disciples;
• Baptize them; and
• Teach them.

From this passage we can make a simple conclusion about baptism: Jesus expected his apostles to baptize those who were becoming disciples. If this were the only reference to baptism in the New Testament, we might wonder why Jesus instructed baptism. Yet, other passages also make a connection between baptism and discipleship.

Those who were baptized by John the Baptist became disciples of John. Likewise, those baptized by the disciples of Jesus became disciples of Jesus. (John 4:1-2; Acts 19:1-5)

Consider also the instruction Jesus gave in the Gospel of Mark (16:15-16), also set after His crucifixion and before His ascension:

And He said to them [apostles], “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.”

Jesus expected the apostles to baptize believers, and he gave a specific reason: The baptized believer will be saved (from condemnation).

One fellow told me that this passage does not say that a person will be condemned if they are not baptized but only if they do not believe. Technically, yes, but let's test his conclusion. A simple illustration should do:

Some years ago a local burger joint offered a burger for only $1 on Sunday if you brought a current church bulletin. (The regular price was about $2.50.) So, this was the deal: On Sunday, whoever brings in a current church bulletin and a dollar will get a burger.

That seems simple enough to understand, but wait! Using the reasoning of my acquaintance, the ad did not say that you would not get a burger for a dollar if you did not bring in a current church bulletin. On a technical point, that is true. However, would you expect to pay only one dollar for a burger if you did not bring in a church bulletin? To ‘assume’ that you would get a dollar burger without the bulletin would be just that, an assumption.

When my acquaintance made his statement about baptism, he was making a bold assumption that he could simply choose to omit baptism, though it was clearly and directly instructed. I guess he can take a chance on his reasoning, but I cannot teach different from what is written. Belief in Jesus accompanied with baptism will save.

So, it is clear from the instruction given by Jesus in the Great Commission that He expected believers to be baptized.

The purpose, according to Jesus: Discipleship and salvation.

What Can 'I' Do?

Not everyone can go overseas as a missionary. Not everyone can give up a successful career to preach. Not everyone is equipped to teach. Christians are not expected to serve in the same way. We really are not all created equal. In fact, not only do we differ in ability, our individual abilities change over time. So, what is expected? The Apostle Paul guides us...

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. —Ephesians 2:10

Before the first disciple began to follow Jesus God had already planned for his people to do good works. In fact, we are crafted by God for the purpose of good works. Good works should be the direct outcome of having been saved by the grace of God.

What a contrast! We formerly walked in “trespasses and sins” (v. 11), but in Christ are equipped to walk in good works! So, what specifically is required?

Have you ever tried to ‘justify’ yourself by asking, “And what good works should I do?” Just listen to Jesus:

"And whoever in the name of a disciple gives to one of these little ones even a cup of cold water to drink, truly I say to you he shall not lose his reward."     --Matthew 10:42

To give something in the name of a disciple is, by extension, giving in the name of the disciple’s teacher. Prior to this verse in Matthew, Jesus had explained that “He who receives you [His disciple], receives Me and he who receives Me, receives Him who sent Me [God].”

So, why would anyone give a cup of cold water? Perhaps it is as simple as this: Someone needs a drink. And that simple kindness is a good work!

That's good, but there's more to say...

In recent years I have watched my parents grow old along with their friends and other Christians of their generation. Their bones are more fragile than before; their bodies are more susceptible to disease and heal slower. They are weaker than they once were, and slower too. They are not as mentally sharp as they once were, and slower too.

Eventually, our ‘seniors’ have to step down as elders, as teachers, as song leaders, as volunteers in various activities, etc. Those who once were the backbone of the congregation now need assistance; more and more as time goes on. There are fewer of their good works as time passes. So, what’s all this ‘senior’ business about?

Prayer!

If you don’t know what else to do (senior or not), pray?

It is not prayer that is so powerful, but our God who listens!

Do you remember how the Apostles handled the request by the Greek widows for assistance (Acts 6)? Seven men were selected to take care of the widows...so that the Apostles could devote their efforts to the Word and to prayer. They understood that prayer was vital.

God has equipped you for good works, whether the simple gift of giving a cool drink of water or the vital work of prayer or anything in between.

What will YOU do?