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A weekly column of the Robison Street Church of Christ, 301 Robison Street. Send your questions to P.O. Box 846, Edna, Texas 77957. website - ednachurchofchrist.org We encourage your questions. All inquiries will be kept confidential.
Teach and Admonish
We’ve been exploring what it means to move from passive attendance to active participation in the life of a local church. Last week, we looked at the importance of encouraging and building up others. This week, we want to turn to another responsibility we share: teaching and admonishing one another.
Spiritual growth doesn’t happen automatically. The Christian life is a lifelong journey, not a quick sprint. As Peter writes, “[G] row in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18, ESV). But that growth can be stunted in at least two ways: spiritual complacency and doctrinal error.
Some stop growing because they lose interest in learning, serving, and changing. They grow weary in doing good (Gal. 6:10). Others drift into false teaching and lose sight of God’s love and God’s truth altogether. Both are dangerous. Paul warns, “ Do not be deceived: ‘Bad company ruins good morals.’” (1 Corinthians 15:33, ESV) The answer? We must stay rooted in God’s word by learning it, applying it, and helping others to do the same. That starts with personal devotion: reading, reflecting, and studying (Psa. 1:1-2; 2 Tim. 2:15). But it also involves mutual teaching within the church with other believers: “ Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another …” (Colossians 3:16).
This shared responsibility requires humility, patience, and love. None of us knows everything. But together, we can help one another hold fast to the truth and grow into the likeness of Jesus (Eph. 4:11-16; 1 Thess. 5:21-22).
What about you? Are you actively seeking the kind of teaching that helps you grow in grace and knowledge? Are you helping others do the same?
If you’re looking for a church committed to learning and growing together through God’s word, we’d love to have you visit.
– Phillip Stuckey – [email protected]
“Come and see. Come and hear the good news of the Gospel. We meet at the corner of Robison and Church Streets on Sunday at 9:30 AM for Bible classes for all ages and 10:30 AM for worship and again at 6:00 PM for worship. We also meet on Wednesday at 7 PM for Bible classes for all ages.”
