The Prophet of Repentance

People recognize the book of Jonah because he was the one who was swallowed by the big fish. However, people tend to overlook the message he preached and the people to whom he preached it!

The Message:

The very first thing the book of Jonah tells us is that the word of the Lord came to Jonah and said, "Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me" (Jonah 1:2). Jonah was to speak against Nineveh.

The People:

Nineveh was perhaps the most wicked city in existence at the time. They did whatever they wanted, whenever they wanted. Jonah was to preach against this wicked and violent city!

The Response:

They repented (Jonah 3:5-10)! Nineveh, the most wicked city on earth, repented, and God spared them!

The Lesson:

No place is to wicked too repent!

How Old Will You Be When You Die? pt. 1

No, this is not an article trying to predict your age or the future. This article will not tell you how much longer you have to live. What this article will tell you, however, is your duty as a Christian. Becoming a Christian is easy. Often the five steps of salvation are quoted, "Hear, believe, repent, confess, and be baptized," and the list is true! The hard part of Christianity, though, comes after salvation. Becoming a Christian is not enough to get one to heaven; Peter wrote, "Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall" (2 Peter 1:10). This is where Christianity becomes difficult. Many Christians spend their entire lives going to worship every service, going to Bible study on Sundays and Wednesdays, and going to gospel meetings and vacation Bible schools, but spend little time in a personal relationship with God. Oh, how sad it is when a child of God does not spend time trying to grow to be like his or her Father! Christians must grow! Of the lack of growth, there can be no excuse! How does a Christian grow? What does it take to mature as a child of God?

Growth takes a conscious effort. Unlike physical growth (which just happens), spiritual growth requires though, purpose, and much effort. The writer of Hebrews scolded those brethren for their failure to grow by telling them,

For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of god; and are become such as have need of milk, and not strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskilful int he word of ritheousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil (Hebrews 5:12-14).

This conscious effort of growth begins with a conscious effort to study! That is what the Hebrews had failed to do. The writer was trying to speak to them about one called Melchisedec (a character from the Old Testament), of whom they knew nothing! They had failed to study; therefore, they had failed to grow!

Paul chastised the Corinthians:

And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. For ye are yet carnal: for whereas ther eis among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? (1 Corinthians 3:1-3).

A conscious effort for growth also involves a conscious effort to love. 1 Corinthians 13 is the great chapter of love amid sixteen chapters of division, turmoil, and troubles. The main problem with Corinth was their lack of love: For this cause, Corinth was weak, unstable, and immature.

A conscious effort to grow also involves a conscious effort for moral uprightness. The Hebrews were told that a mature person is one who "by reason of use have [his] senses exercised to discern both good and evil" (Hebrews 5:14). Moral uprightness is essential in a Christian. However, a mature Christian should be able to look at a situation and determine whether it is right or wrong.

These three things--study, love, and moral uprightness--are a good start to spiritual growth. If conscious effort is given to growing in these three aspects of Christian life, growth will inevitably follow.

What Shall We Do with Christ?

If you were given the opportunity to do whatever you wanted to do with Jesus Christ, what would it be? It never is easy to put oneself in a hypothetical situation and give an accurate description of what you would do, but this question is slightly different. While this question is hypothetical in nature, it is also quite real. Every person in history has had to face this question, and every person living today must also face it. What one does with Christ determines his eternal destiny. There are two things one can do with Christ: One can either crucify Him or follow Him.

The New Testament is full of people who chose to crucify Christ. Of course, there are the Jews who literally had Him crucified, and the Romans who literally did the crucifying, but there are also many people in the New Testament who crucified Jesus again! Who are these people who crucify Christ again? "For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, and have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, if they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame" (Hebrews 6:4-6). In referring to those Jews who had obeyed the gospel but turned back to Judaism, the writer of Hebrews states that they (those Jews who turned back to Judaism) crucified Christ again. Who are they who do such a thing, but those who reject Him? It is a serious thing to reject Christ, for "there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved" (Acts 4:12). A person who desires to escape the punishment which will befall those who crucify the Son of God will accept Him and obey His teachings! Paul wrote, "...when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our lord Jesus Christ: who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power" (2 Thessalonians 1:7-9). The only way to be saved from this punishment is to obey Him: "And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him" (Hebrews 5:9).

Thankfully, the Lord calls, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light" (Matthew 11:28-30). Jehovah is not a God of malice and hatred toward His creation. Quite the opposite; He is a God, "Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth" (1 Timothy 2:4). Since it is not God's desire for mankind to be lost, and it is true that mankind will be lost if he rejects Christ, then it must be true that God has provided for us a way of escape. Indeed, God has given mankind a means of escaping the pollutions of the world--"through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 2:20). We have "all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue" (2 Peter 1:3). Coming to know the Lord involves taking on His teachings (Matthew 11:28-30). They are easy and light. Obeying the Lord is not grievous (or "burdensome") (1 John 5:3). In fact, in the keeping of God's law, there is great reward (Psalm 19:11). To those who love His appearing, there will be given a crown of righteousness (2 Timothy 4:8).

So count the cost (Luke 14:28-33): Is it worth leaving this world for that crown of righteousness? The question is posed to you, friend: What will you do with Jesus?

Welcome to the Mt. Olive Church of Christ!

You will travel many places on God's earth, but you will find very few places as warm and welcoming as the Mt. Olive church of Christ! If you are in the Vernon, AL area and looking for a church home, then Mt. Olive is the place to be! We believe in doing Bible things in Bible ways, and worshiping Jehovah, as He has instructed us to do, "in spirit and in truth" (John 4:24). You will find that no Bible topic is discussed without consulting God's Word on the matter. All of this is done because "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works" (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

The Mt. Olive Church of Christ (located on Buck Jackson Road in Vernon, AL) has roots in the area for many years. It is a congregation of the Lord's church well-grounded in the truth, and will not soon be moved from it. Three elders shepherd this flock: Robert Hawkins, Ronald Redus, and Joe Woodham. These three men are concerned not only with the souls located within this congregation, but with your soul, too! They have a strong desire to see your well-being in this life and in the life to come. These three men tend to spiritual matters in the church, and take heed to the flock "over which the Holy Spirit hath made [them] overseers" (Acts 20:28). The new evangelist for the Mt. Olive Church of Christ is Justin Beard. He began his labor here in June of 2010 after graduating the Memphis School of Preaching. His youthful energy compounded with the congregation's zealous service for the Lord has sparked a trend of growth, both in spiritual maturity and in number. Since June, 2010, the numbers in attendance every Sunday morning have grown, reaching a climax in November double the number of June's average attendance!

Here, at the Mt. Olive church of Christ, we can ensure that you and your family receive a firm grounding in the truth. With sound, Bible-filled sermons, and text-centered Bible classes, adults and children alike receive a wealth of Bible knowledge every time the doors are opened. In the warm, family-like environment typical of rural Alabama, you and your family will feel at home when you visit this congregation. Christian attitudes such as love, tenderness, meekness, gentleness, and humility are displayed, and the brotherly fellowship among Christians is ever present. You will not have to worry about what your children will be doing. The sound of children delight the ears of our crowd, and with our developing youth programs (such as a Bible Bowl team, Bible classes, Vacation Bible Schools, and much more), your children will enjoy learning God's Word, and will leave feeling encouraged and uplifted by our talented and devoted Bible class teachers.

There is nothing to fear; we are friendly folk and dedicated to saving lost souls! We are concerned about you, so why not? Why not visit the Mt. Olive church of Christ? We are located at 7315 Buck Jackson Road in Vernon, AL. Our doors open for worship on Sunday at 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. and on Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. You will be our honored guest!

"Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as show; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool" (Isaiah 1:18).

"Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands. Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing. Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations" (Psalm 100).