Mural Painting

I finished a mural at Hollis Sea Food a couple months ago. Thought some of you might like to see it.

Let the Bible Interpret Itself

So many people, when reading the bible to prove their point, select a verse and quote it out of context. For instance :
St. John, Chapter 3, verse 16:
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

It’s heart breaking to watch people on television walk down the aisle toward the speaker, thinking that’s all they have to do to be saved. We certainly believe in God before we follow his commandments to inherit eternal life. In Matthew 28, verses 16 through 20,
16: Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them.
17: And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted.
18: And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
19: Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
20: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and , lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Why would Jesus tell his disciples this if it was to be left out of the plan of salvation?

Do you study the bible?

I encourage you to read and not be content with what you hear in sermons. After all, your soul is at stake here. So many people attend the denominational church their family has gone to for generations, and never study enough to know that the bible speaks of one church, The Church of Christ that Jesus purchased with his blood.
Ephesians, Chapter 4, verses 4,5, and 6:
Verse 4: There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
Verse 5: One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
Verse 6: One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

I’ve never understood why people are willing to accept the fact that there is one God, and one Father, and not accept that there is one church. One means one.

Yours in Christ,
Frances Bennett

Are You Looking For an Easy Religion?

Does your church use women in the worship service?
1 Corinthians chapter 14, verses 34 & 35.
34. Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law.
35. And if they will learn anything, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.

Does your church uphold homosexuality?
Romans chapter 1, verses 26 through 32.
26. For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:
27. And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.
28. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
29. Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
30. Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
31. Without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:
32. Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
Genesis chapter 5, verse 1 & 2.
1. This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him;
2. Male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day they were created.
Matthew chapter 19, verse 4.
Christ was teaching along the coasts of Judea beyond Jordan.
4. And he (Christ) answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female,

In Christ,
Frances Bennett

What's in a Church Name?

What’s in a Church Name?

By what name is your church congregation known? Is it manmade, or scriptural?
In Acts chapter 4, the setting is Jerusalem where Peter and John were in the midst of Annas, the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest.
Verse 7: And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this? (The good deed done to the impotent man in Acts chapter 3)
Verse 10:(Peter tells them): Be it known unto you all, and to the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.
Verse 11: This is the stone which was set at naught of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.
Verse 12: Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

Psalms 11, verse 9:
He sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant for ever: holy and reverend is his name.

We do not have scriptural authority to put the word 'reverend' in front of any name.

Yours In Christ,
Frances Bennett

The Church of Christ-New Testament Teachings

The Church of Christ-The New Testament church teachings.

Before his crucifixion, as Christ walked and taught with his disciples, he often forgave sins without baptism. This was because the old law of Moses was in effect, and the Sabbath (Saturday) was then what Sunday is to us now. Once Christ died, the new testament law came into effect. That old argument of the thief on the cross not being baptized was under the old law of Moses.
Galatians 3, verses 23 through 26. But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.
Verse 24: Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
Verse 25: But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a school master.
Verse 26: For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
Verse 27: For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

Christ arose on the first day of the week. The institution of the Lord’s supper is recorded in St. Matthew chapter 26, verses 26 through 30, before His crucifixion.
Verse 26: And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.
Verse 27: And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it;
Verse 28: For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
Verse 29: But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.
Verse 30: And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives.
Notice there were no musical instruments.
The institution of the Lord’supper is also recorded by St. Mark, Chapter 14.
Acts Chapter 9 tells about the conversion of Saul of Tarsus. Acts chapter13, verse 9 Reads: Then Saul, (who is also called Paul,)
Acts Chapter 9, verse 13: Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, (Paul) how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem:
Verse 14: And he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name.
Verse 15: But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way; for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:
Verse 16: For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my names sake.
Acts 20, Verse 7: And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.
1 Corinthians, Chapter 16, Verses 1 and 2:
Verse 1: Paul instructs: Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye.
Verse 2: Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.
In Christ, Frances Bennett

Peter's Confession of Faith

In Matthew chapter 16, starting with verse 13, Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi and asked his diciples, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?
14: And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.
15: He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?
16: And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
17: And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed 'it' unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
18: And I say also unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Upon what rock? That Jesus Christ is the Son of God. The last three verses of St. Matthew 28 is where Jesus tells the eleven disciples (Judas had hanged himself):
Verse 18,And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you, and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Yours in Christ,
Frances Bennett