In This Issue of The Hillsboro Christian

By Brad Clouse

“But someone will say, ‘You have faith; I have deeds.’ Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that – and shudder.”

(James 2:18-19)

“As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.” (James 2:26)

James is considered to be the most practical book in the New Testament. It is in this letter that we learn the characteristics of true faith: “The great teaching of the book is that true faith must work; it must produce; it must be visible. Faith that never gets beyond mind or mouth is not sufficient. Certainly, faith must be there, but it must be more. The noun ‘faith’ must be translated into an action verb” (James E. Smith). Our faith is firmly rooted in the transformative power of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Such faith transforms our behavior. It obeys. It perseveres. It is alive.

The author of this letter is James, the half-brother of Jesus: “James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations: Greetings” (James 1:1). We read in John 7:5 that he along with his other brothers did not believe in Jesus. Then, post-resurrection, Jesus appeared to him (I Corinthians 15:7), and in that moment, his life was forever changed. James would dedicate the rest of his life to living an active faith in the service of his Lord. According to church history, he would suffer and die for his faith in Jesus.

“[James] shows us what genuine faith looks like in real life and will challenge us about how real faith works hard and lives distinctively. James’ aim is that his readers would serve Jesus more wholeheartedly and radically.”

(Sam

Allberry)

This month, we are beginning a new sermon series entitled FAITH ALIVE, which will take us through the book of James. During this series, we will learn what an active faith in Jesus Christ looks like:

“The Testing of Your Faith”

“Consider the Source”

“Mercy Triumphs Over Judgment”

“Accompanied By Action”

“Out of the Same Mouth”

“Who Is Wise and Understanding Among You?”

“Humble Yourself Before the Lord”

“Where Your Treasure Is”

“Be Patient”

(James 1:1-12)

(James 1:13-25)

(James 1:26-2:13)

(James 2:14-26)

(James 3:1-12)

(James 3:13-18)

(James 4:1-17)

(James 5:1-6)

(James 5:7-20)

The theme of our newsletter is FAITH, which corresponds with our upcoming sermon series in the book of James. In this edition, you will find an article from Adam Steele with encouraging words regarding this topic. Also, our guest contributor for this month is Kevin Whitsett, Operations Coordinator for Person 2 Person Ministries. May the contents of this newsletter help us all “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (II Peter 3:18).

In Christian love, Brad

Brad Clouse, a Louisville, Kentucky native, graduated from Louisville Bible College in 2010 with a Master's Degree in Sacred Literature after earning his former degrees at the same university. Brad served at smaller churches in Adair County Kentucky while in college before being called to Ohio in 2009. Brad ministered to the New Vienna Church of Christ congregation for 12 years before being called to the Hillsboro Church of Christ as the Senior Minister.

He is pictured here with his wife, Julie.

Looking for a daily connection to scripture? Grab your Bibles, let’s go through the Word!

We’ve created a daily morning devotional that you can find on YouTube, Facebook, or our website.

Brad, Adam, Micah, James, and Dave have worked hard putting this together. Each day one of the guys breaks down a few verses of the text for us to connect with in more understandable chunks. Each one lasts 3-5 minutes long.

What a great way to start your morning! Check it out!

Life Line Screening will be here at Hillsboro Church of Christ

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By Kevin Whitsett

One of my favorite movies is “Signs,” starring Mel Gibson. He portrays a Minister who has lost his faith due to his wife’s accidental death. Raising two children on the family farm, Gibson’s character has turned his back on the Lord to the point that in one scene, he looks angrily toward heaven and shouts at God, “I hate you!” But a few strange events take place (ok, an alien shows up!), and by the end of the movie, he has returned to his faith, believing the truth of Romans 8:28, which says, “All things work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose.”

I wonder how many good Christian people have struggled with their faith when difficult times come. To be honest, I have. Just recently, my wife was lying in an Emergency Room bed, writhing in pain and sickness. It wasn’t the first time and probably won’t be the last. After praying for God to bring healing, which didn’t come until many hours later, I began to question if God really cared. “By your power and through your grace, please heal my wife,” I prayed. But the healing didn’t come as fast as she or I would’ve liked. Several days later, once my wife was feeling better, people would say, “God is good!” Yet I would think, “Why wasn’t He good while she was suffering in the E.R.?”

Don’t worry. I haven’t lost my faith! But honestly, I can understand why some people do.

Hebrews 11:1 defines faith as “…the certainty of things hoped for, a proof of things not seen.” When “things hoped for” don’t show up exactly as we might want or expect, then that “certainty” goes right out the window. So exactly, what is this faith that brings certainty?

The rest of Hebrews 11 gives us all sorts of examples. Verse 3 says, “By faith we understand that the world has been created by the word of God.” None of us were there when the world was created, but by faith, we believe it to be true. Verses 4-38 mention people like Abel, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Rahab, and more…17 people are named who “by faith” did amazing things. Countless others are referred to as well, who “by faith” performed unbelievable acts of obedience and trust. Have you read those verses lately?

In speaking of the unnamed faithful, verses 33-38 tell us, “Who by faith conquered kingdoms, performed acts of righteousness, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received back their dead by resurrection, and others were tortured, not accepting their release, so that they might obtain a better resurrection; and others experienced mocking and flogging, and further, chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted, they were put to death with the sword; they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented (people of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts, on mountains, and sheltering in caves and holes in the ground.”

I hang my head in shame as I read those verses. How dare I wonder if God is still good while my wife is sick; how dare I feel sorry for myself? Saints of old were sawn in two, hiding in holes in the ground, tortured, and killed with a sword, and their faith in God stood strong. They couldn’t see “a better resurrection,” but they believed in it. They couldn’t see God on His throne but knew He was there. The struggles of this world didn’t cause their faith to crack. Yes, the world was not worthy of them.

That’s the kind of faith I want. A faith that doesn’t lead me away from God when the hard times come but a faith that causes me to run toward Him. I’m thankful that God understands if our faith does waver at times. After Jesus rose from the dead, He went to Sunday evening service (well, kind of!). He met His disciples that Sunday night, but Thomas wasn’t there. The disciples met with him and said, “We have seen the Lord!” But Thomas said, “Unless I see in His hands the imprint of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe” (John 20:25b). That’s why he has been nicknamed Doubting Thomas; he had to see it to believe it.

The following week, Thomas was with the disciples when Jesus appeared again. He told Thomas, “Place your finger here, and see My hands; and take your hand and put it into My side; and do not continue in disbelief but be a believer” (John 20:27). Isn’t it wonderful that Jesus understands our disbelief and doubts, and is patiently willing to prove Himself? When we struggle, He provides just what we need at just the right time to bolster our faith.

Just ask the father mentioned in Mark 9. For years his son had been tortured by an evil spirit. The boy had seizures, foamed at the mouth, and was thrown into the fire and the water to kill him. So the father tells Jesus, “If you can do anything, take pity on us and help us” (Mark 9:22b). I love Jesus’ reply! “If you can?” It’s as if Jesus was saying, “Let’s see…I am the Son of God who created the entire universe; I think I can do something about your boy!”

What He actually told him was, “All things are possible to the one who believes” (v. 23). There’s that faith thing again. And the father’s reply has probably been echoed by countless saints throughout the years, including me: “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” (v. 24).

There it is. “I do have faith, but at times my faith wavers. I do believe, but at times, it’s hard.” I can relate to that father. I thought of him while in the E.R. with my wife. And I prayed those same words, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”

If you’re struggling with your faith, read Scripture. The Biblical stories and references I mentioned in this article, and many more, are written for our instruction. We need to hear how the people mentioned in Scripture lived by faith. When we learn how they did it, we can also be encouraged to do it.

God says, “The righteous will live by faith” (Hab. 2:4, Rom. 1:7). Let’s do that…even when life gets hard!

Kevin Whitsett has been the Operations Coordinator at Person to Person Ministries, Hillsboro, OH, since the summer of 2018. Previously, he had served only two churches during his 34 years of located ministry: the Grundy (VA) Church of Christ (15 years) and the Georgetown (OH) Church of Christ (19 years). His amazing wife is Cindy, and they have a daughter and a son, both of whom serve in located ministry.

Tammy Tekuelve (sister to Shannon McCray) was baptized by Micah Wednesday, June 14th. Congratulations Tammy on your decision to follow Christ!