Tanglewood Church of Christ

After his resurrection Jesus met with his disciples several times. This allowed them to become eyewitnesses that the resurrection had indeed happened. Jesus also used these times to instruct them about their future work. We call these instructions the “Great Commission,” because Jesus commanded them to go into all the world preaching the gospel, baptizing those who believed, and then instructing  the new converts in all His teaching. Today we look at how the disciples imitated their Master as they carried out their commission. Click the blue button to listen.

The Christian community has been blessed for almost 2,000 years with three letters from the Apostle Paul which detail what a preacher must do and be. First and Second Timothy and Titus are the Holy Spirit’s directions for ministers. Today we will look at the first letter to Timothy. In it Paul directs this younger preacher of the gospel in what to teach, how to live and how to conduct himself among God’s people. Click the blue button to listen to Paul’s instructions to Timothy… and to ministers of God’s Word today!

We are blessed with three writings in our New Testament which specifically address the work of ministers/preachers of the Gospel. Written by the Apostle Paul, I and II Timothy and Titus allow us to learn what preachers were supposed to be like from the very beginning of Christianity. Today we begin looking at Timothy, a man who worked so closely with Paul that Paul called him, “My son.” Click the blue box to listen to today’s message.

As we continue to examine “preachers” in the New Testament, we look today at those mentioned in Ephesians 4:11 as “pastors and teachers.” In the beginning of the church, the role of pastor was the same as that of elder and bishop. Good Bible dictionaries confirm this. And elders - therefore, pastors - were required to be competent teachers (I Timothy 3:2); some were also especially capable as preachers (I Timothy 5:17). Besides pastors who preached, there were also teachers in the New Testament churches who preached. To learn more about these things, click our blue button to listen.

After His resurrection Jesus commissioned His apostles (and all His disciples) to “go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.” (Mark 16:15-16) What is this gospel? What is the essence of the greatest news ever heard? Is it a new moral and ethical lifestyle? The church and its unique practices? The teachings and deeds of Jesus? In fact, these are only the results of this good news. Hear about the real gospel by clicking the blue button.

Special robes, seminary degrees, exalted titles. . . religious clergymen had all these in the time of Jesus. But Jesus didn’t. . . nor did John the Baptizer. Neither did those original apostles of Christ. Today we look further at preachers and preaching in the New Testament. Following in the footsteps of Jesus were his closest disciples, the apostles. Others who followed Him included those later called evangelists. Click on the blue button to hear more about these preachers.

One of the best known features of any church today is the “preacher.” He (or she) often has a special education, special attire, special titles, and special tasks. Probably almost everyone thinks that is the way it is supposed to be. But is it? The Apostle Paul in Romans 10:14-15 said that people can believe when they hear, and they can hear if they have a preacher. What were these first preachers like? Would we recognize them today? Would preachers of today have been recognized “back then?” This is the beginning of an extended study we are making together of “Preaching: Messenger, Message, and Method.” Click the blue button to listen to this first lesson in our series.

Beginning on the day of his resurrection, Jesus appeared time and again to his disciples, both singly and in groups. But it will be two weeks (or perhaps more) before the Lord deals with Peter’s denials from that night Jesus was arrested and tried. John tells us about it in John chapter 21. There are valuable lessons for us in this story as well. How often have we needed forgiveness to heal a relationship? Or again, how often have we been at a point in our lives when we did not know what the future held, and all our dreams have been shattered? Click the blue button to listen as we hear Jesus ask Peter, “Do you love me?”

On Thursday, June 19, we had the opportunity to be on the weekly broadcast Uncle Noah Family Radio. This is broadcast on FM 92.7 KJAK in Lubbock. “Uncle Noah” is actually our good friend Charles Valentine who manages the very popular www.ChildrensBibleStudy.com website. To hear the broadcast of our show last week, click here.

It’s early on a Sunday morning. A well-dressed woman stands weeping near the tomb of a dear friend. Sound familiar? The death of a loved one is a time of great grief and sense of loss for all of us. In John 20 Mary of Magdala was at the tomb of Jesus weeping. Not only had her friend been executed just three days before, but now his tomb was empty. Her sense of loss and grief is extreme; she believed someone had desecrated the grave. But what a surprise awaited her! Today we also weep as loved ones leave us in death. However, our sorrow is not like those who have no hope. Learn more about what happened that Sunday morning, and the hope we have as a result. Click the blue box to hear our message.