Green Oaks Church of Christ
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Bible Correspondence Course
  • Study Materials
    • Sermons
    • Books
    • Video Sermons
    • Printable Studies
  • Thought For The Week
  • Links
  • Members
    • Monthly News

Thought for the Week

​Each week Brother Joe Norton shares his inspirational insights to Scripture.
Joe Norton

the word grew mightily

2/26/2017

 
“So the word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed” (Acts 19:20).
 
The Apostle Paul was in Ephesus when the incidents in this chapter took place. To confirm that he was endowed with special miraculous gifts, he had performed unusual miracles in this city and among the brethren there.
 
Such power as he displayed indeed impressed the Ephesians because of their fascination with magicians and exorcists. His powers were so unusual that they knew his miracles were different from those with which they were acquainted.
 
Because of his influence, the people gave up their former mysterious arts and were converted to the true way. As a result, the church continued to prosper “mightily.”
 
Even though we don’t have miraculous powers as they did, we do have the ability to do many things that will have a positive impact on the church today. Scriptures are emphatic that each of us is to use the talents with which we have been blessed so we can be an instrument in the growth of the Lord’s church.

our best friend

2/19/2017

 
“Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends” (John 15:1).
 
Jesus is in the middle of some intensive teaching to His apostles when He comes forth with this statement about the ultimate expression of friendship. This statement is part of Jesus’ attempt to prepare the apostles for His departure.
 
When the time comes, he wants them to be strengthened to the point that they will not give up and be discouraged. His coming action will be an assurance that He is their dear friend.
 
The kind of friendship Jesus describes here was not just for the apostles: it was for all who would ultimately come to Him in humble obedience. He became and remains the best friend we could ever have when He gave His life on the cross for our sins, making it possible for us to go to heaven.


reconciled to god

2/12/2017

 
“For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life” (Romans 5:10).
 
As Paul provides strength and encouragement to the Romans by His comforting words here, so he does for us. The same truth exists for us as it did for them.
 
We were God’s enemies when we were living out in sin and away from Him. Because of His love and mercy, he provided a way for us to be free from our sins and to have a relationship with Him: it was by the death of His Son—by the shedding of His blood on the cross.
 
But Jesus didn’t stay dead:  by the power of God, Jesus came forth from the grave, conquering His last enemy, death, and coming back to life, completing the process of atonement.
 
As Paul explains to the Romans in the next chapter, we take advantage of this sacrificial act of Jesus when we obey from the heart the form of doctrine that was delivered.
 
 

the ultimate sacrifice

2/5/2017

 
“He was oppressed, and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth: He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, And as sheep before its shearers is silent, so He opened not His mouth” (Isaiah 53:7).
 
Of all the prophets and other writers about Jesus, Isaiah surely gave us some of the most beautiful and wonderful descriptions. Jesus left His wonderful home in glory to come to the earth to do His Father’s will and pay the supreme sacrifice for our sins.
 
Jesus appeared before the courts of this world, but He didn’t debate and argue—He just completed the mission His Father assigned Him. When we read the events that took place just preceding His death, we see clearly that Isaiah’s prophecy was fulfilled.
 
May the love that Jesus demonstrated for us in the sacrifices mentioned in this as well as in many other passages in scripture penetrate deep enough into our hearts to stimulate us to increase our awareness of His suffering and deepen our commitment to Him and His Cause.

    Joe Norton

    Archives

    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    March 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016

    Categories

    All
    Attitude
    Christian Living
    Commitment
    Conformity
    Dealing With Life
    Endurance
    Faith
    God
    Goodness
    Jesus
    Peace
    Serious Seer
    Sin
    Thankfulness
    The Word
    Truth
    Wisdom
    Workers

    RSS Feed

4601 SW Green Oaks Blvd. Arlington, TX 76017
Service Times: Sundays 10:00 & 2:30.  Wednesdays 7:30
Proudly powered by Weebly
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Bible Correspondence Course
  • Study Materials
    • Sermons
    • Books
    • Video Sermons
    • Printable Studies
  • Thought For The Week
  • Links
  • Members
    • Monthly News