Pearls of Wisdom from Oyster Bay Church of Christ in Crawfordville, Florida

Have you done things you are convinced God would never forgive you for? Do you see God as a vengeful deity, treasuring up His wrath to pour out upon you in due time? The Bible warns us in Romans 11 to behold the 'severity of God'. God is holy and just and sin must be punished either on the back of Jesus Christ at Calvary or in our everlasting separation from God in hell. This leaves us at a crossr...

Most people who believe in the afterlife believe they will go to heaven. Jesus taught that many who expect to inherit heaven are not prepared and will be denied entrance to that eternal kingdom. However, some who anticipate heaven might change their mind upon discovering what heaven is. In this broadcast of Let the Bible Speak, guest speaker Marcus Reppert suggests why some may not want to go to h...

Christ Jesus left the earth with the promise to return. While the church patiently waits for His coming, the unbelieving world is rushing headlong toward God’s judgment. His coming will mean joy for many and unthinkable horrors for many more. It will be the day of all days. What kind of day will it be when Jesus comes again? In this broadcast of Let the Bible Speak, we look at eight characteristic...

Most people spend their lives searching for happiness and a state of contentment or joy but find those things elusive at best. When we achieve certain goals or find ourselves in a favorable situation, they often mistake a feeling of wellbeing with joy. when circumstances change, their "joy" slips away. The Apostle Paul, like his Lord Jesus, lived a challenging life of suffering that few of us toda...

One of the scribes who questioned Jesus in the final week of His earthly ministry stands apart from the others. While most of those pious religious leaders querying the Christ that day were hard of heart and a great distance from God, this man impressed the Lord. Jesus said, "Thou art not far from the kingdom of God." What brought him so near? Many are in the same condition today. In this broadcas...

Saying “no” can be difficult especially if we must refuse one in authority. It is a vital word, however, in the Christian’s vocabulary. History is replete with the stories of courageous men and women who stood before dictators, despots, and tyrants and refused to compromise their convictions. None were ever so valiant as those we read of in holy writ, who risked their lives by refusing the orders...

The world is filled with memorials commemorating significant people and events and our calendars are marked with special days of remembrance. Meticulous planning is usually involved in the design of a memorial so that it carefully conveys a message to those who behold it. In this broadcast of Let the Bible Speak, we look at three aspects of the Greatest Memorial ever established. ******* Hear more...

Josiah became king at the tender age of eight but his pure heart was what the people needed as the kings before him had practiced wickedness. When he was overseeing repairs to the temple, a priceless book was found and brought to him. It was the book of the law. Josiah had it read aloud and when he heard what God's law required he was shocked and grieved by how far they had gone astray. The discov...

Truth is that which is real, factual, and in agreement with reality. A statement is true when it accurately reflects what actually is, rather than what is false, mistaken, or deceptive. In today's world, many people believe that truth is relative, meaning that what is true for one person may not be true for another. However, the Bible teaches that truth is not relative, but absolute. Absolute trut...

Stay awake. Why Christians must guard against spiritual complacency. Complacency means becoming too comfortable or satisfied with a situation to the point that a person stops being careful or alert. In a spiritual sense, complacency can be very dangerous for Christians. When a believer becomes overly comfortable in their life and stops carefully examining what they hear or believe, they become mor...

Spiritual Maturity—Growing in Christlike Character Spiritual maturity is a central goal of the Christian life. It is more than knowledge of scripture or religious activity. It involves the transformation of the heart, mind, and behavior to reflect the character of Jesus Christ. The New Testament emphasizes that believers are called to grow in faith, wisdom, and love, becoming fully equipped to ser...

Be a Bridge Builder. In Acts 17, we see Paul the apostle stepping into Athens, a city known for its philosophers, poets, and debates. Everywhere he looked were idols, statues, and altars, including one dedicated to an unknown god (Acts 17:23). The city was alive with ideas, but Paul's heart was heavy. They were searching, yet they did not know the god who can save. As 2 Timothy 3:7 reminds us, peo...

Beliefs have consequences. Beliefs shape the way people think, act, and make decisions. What a person believes about truth, morality, and God influences the direction of their life. The Bible teaches that beliefs are not neutral. They carry real consequences. When people believe and follow the truth of God's Word, it leads to life and wisdom. However, when people accept false beliefs or reject God...

The apostle Paul declared to the Ephesian church that salvation comes by grace through faith in order that we should walk in good works. In this broadcast of Let the Bible Speak, we turn to a story in the Old Testament that provides a powerful illustration of Paul's later teaching. ******* Hear more messages and find out more about Oyster Bay Church of Christ in Crawfordville, FL on our website: h...

The bible paints a historical picture of the church which Jesus established. Is the depiction of the church in New Testament relevant to the church today? Does the church under the immediate oversight of the living apostles serve as a model for the modern congregation in belief, worship, organization, government, and work? In this broadcast of Let the Bible Speak, we conclude a series about the Ne...

The church is not only a spiritual relationship of all saved people, it has a practical purpose for existing and a mission to pursue. Why do congregations of the Lord's church exist? What is their divine mandate? In this broadcast of Let the Bible Speak, we continue the series on The New Testament Church by looking at its purpose. ******* Hear more messages and find out more about Oyster Bay Churc...

Is there anything in a name? In part six of the New Testament Church series, we look at the bible’s descriptions of the early congregations. We learn that there was a name given to the followers of Christ, His church. ******* Hear more messages and find out more about Oyster Bay Church of Christ in Crawfordville, FL on our website: https://www.oysterbaychurchofchrist.org/ And here: https://pearlso...

One of the usages of the word “church” in the New Testament refers to the physical assembly of believers in a locality. The church described in the bible came together regularly and frequently to worship God and serve one another. What did these gatherings include and what can we learn from the divine record about their manner of worship and exhortation? In this broadcast of Let the Bible Speak, p...

How did the early Christians understand baptism? Baptism held a central and indispensable role in the faith and life of the early Christian church. Rooted in the command of Christ and practiced consistently by the apostles, baptism was understood as the decisive moment of entry into the Christian life. It was closely associated with repentance, forgiveness of sins, new birth, union with Christ, an...

Is Our Faith Dead or Alive? In Matthew 25:31–46, Jesus presents a vivid picture of the final judgment. The Son of Man comes in glory, gathers all nations before Him, and separates people as a shepherd separates sheep from goats. To those on His right, the King offers blessing and inheritance of the kingdom prepared for them. The Evidence of Mercy The reason He gives is very practical. They: Fed th...

No Third Option In Matthew 21:23-27, Jesus reduces a complicated religious confrontation to a simple, unavoidable choice. When challenged by the chief priests and elders about his authority, he asks them whether the baptism of John the Baptist was from heaven or of men. Those two options—heaven or man—frame not only that moment in the temple courts, but the fundamental decision every person must m...

Pleasing God or Pleasing Ourselves? When people attend church, their motivations can vary. Some come seeking comfort, inspiration, friendship, or encouragement. Others attend out of habit or tradition. While these reasons are understandable, Scripture teaches that the primary purpose of church is not self-fulfillment, but honoring and pleasing God. When personal satisfaction becomes the central go...

Are We Willing to Carry the Sheep? The parable of the lost sheep found in Luke 15:3-7 is one of Jesus' most powerful illustrations of God's love for those who wander away. In this parable, a shepherd leaves 99 sheep in the wilderness and goes in search of one that has been lost. When he finally finds it, Jesus describes a remarkable moment: "...and when he hath found it, he layeth it on his should...

-- The Shepherd’s Initiative: Jesus does not wait for the lost to find their own way back; He actively pursues them, demonstrating that the value of the individual outweighs the convenience of the majority. -- Service is Devotion: Jesus identifies Himself so closely with the vulnerable, the hungry, and the imprisoned that He declares any service—or neglect—rendered to them is done directly to Him....

What did the church described in the New Testament believe? The bible says the early disciples "continued in the apostles doctrine", but how was this teaching received? As we continue our series concerning the New Testament church, we look at how the doctrines held to by the first century believers were derived and what the basis of our belief should be today. ******* Hear more messages and find o...