EMBRACE THE CHANGES THAT HELP US GROW

Good morning, and Welcome to Harding Street Church of Christ! We are officially in the second half of 2024, and the time has gone by almost quicker than we can keep up. At Harding Street we are going through a time of change. I am glad to have been chosen as the new minister of Harding Street Church of Christ and am excited for the challenges that come with this role, but that does lead to change. The downside to me becoming minister, is it leaves holes in other parts of our worship such as song leading and teachers for classes. As Mickey said in his final bulletin article last week, In Luke 9:62, and Philippians 3:13-14 we cannot look back on what is in the past, but we must constantly be looking forward into the path that is ahead so that we can grow and prosper.

Change has always been part of our world. Starting with Adam and Eve, who changed from being sinless and living without a worry in the Garden of Eden, into sinful creatures who were cast out to fend for themselves. The change of the world when God flooded the world and Noah built the ark, destroying the corrupt generation who did not know God. The change in the death of Jesus, ending the old covenant and bringing forth the new salvation. We even see change all the time in our modern world. We saw a change a few years ago in the world before and after covid, with more and more things going from in person to online. We see changes now in the news and media with the growth of AI. Right now the change everyone is talking about is the presidential election, with many anxious for what will happen in the years to come. In this ever changing world, how can we find something to cling to that is unchanging? In Hebrews 13:8 we can learn about Jesus, and his teachings and salvation that are always unchanging in the fast paced ever changing world. Jesus is the same savior that he always has been and always will be. If we want to find something to cling to, then we need to go no further than the teachings of Jesus. 2 Corinthians 5:17 tells us that when we follow the teachings of Jesus, then we are made a new creation. The old is gone and the new is here! Sometimes we need change in our lives, and if you are looking for a change from your life and you haven’t accepted Jesus, then why are you waiting? Our world speaks on the importance of New Year’s Resolutions, but why should we wait until the beginning of the new year to make a change in our lives? As we go into the second half of the year 2024, I hope you will join me in embracing the changes that can help us grow, but also in clinging to those things which are unchanging in this sinful world.

-Geoffrey Bane