We are currently looking for a gospel preacher to work with us.

If you are interested please contact Joe Cash at (205) 541-4346 OR Wendell Parrish at (205) 365-2622.

 

Welcome to Lay Lake
church of Christ, Columbiana, Alabama

You will be more than welcome at all of our services. Please come and bring your Bible to "search the Scriptures" with us.  

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There was no name on the church building, just a plaque which said, “The word of the Lord will be proclaimed here Sunday at 3:00 p.m.” We had just arrived in New Zealand (there were six of us, three couples) and had gone there to establish the church in Hamilton. We decided we would go to visit that group. As we walked in we noticed a different arrangement of the pews—at the front of the building there were pews on all four sides of what was obviously the table for the Lord’s Supper. Then, there were other pews, much like you would see in any church building, which extended back to the entrance. They asked us, “Do you know the Lord as your personal Savior?” When we answered “yes,” they ushered us up to the “inner circle,” and we worshiped with them. We arranged for a study period later that week and discovered a lot about them. When we came a second time, we were not invited to sit at the front, but we were seated in the pews in what I perceived as the “sinner section.” Obviously that phrase about knowing Jesus as a personal Savior is rather widespread in the religious world. It is not found in that form in the Bible, but the Bible does discuss about knowing the Lord. How does God use the words about knowing the Lord? The clearest definition of knowing the Lord is found in the second chapter of First John. “And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments” (vs. 4). One cannot simply say that “I know the Lord as my Savior” and fail to obey Him. God says that if I fail to do what He says that I do not know Him. Look at the next verse. “He that sayeth, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in Him (1 John 2:5).” In the study that we had, it was obvious that while they talked about knowing Jesus, they had little regard in doing what He said. God said that they lied when they said they knew Him. Now look at the next verse. “But whosoever keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know that we are in him (1 John 2:6).” One who knows God’s will, but does not obey Him, may think he loves the Lord. However, John says that whatever love they may think they have for   Him is an imperfect love. This same truth tying the true love of Jesus to obeying Him was taught by Jesus. “Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you” (John 15:14). “If ye love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15). So, when you hear someone talk about knowing the Lord, remember that it is one thing to say, “I know the Lord,” and another to show that we know Him by obeying Him! 

Articles

  Prayers pleasing to God need not be lengthy and must not be filled with “vain repetitions”. The Lord taught His disciples to avoid this common error of the Pharisees who, He said, use “vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking” (Matt. 6:7). The efficacy in prayer is not dependent on the number of words used, or the eloquence of the speaker who chooses them. One of the most poignant and impressive prayers in the Bible has in it only two words! David, facing formidable enemies, deeply troubled, uncertain what course would be best for him to follow and fully aware of his own inability to resolve his problems, cried out, “Help, Lord” (Psa. 12:1). This was no time for speech-making to God! All who face trials in life—and eventually all do—can fully empathize with the embattled Psalmist, and recall those painful occasions when in turning to the Lord, there was the sobering realization that there was no one else to whom to turn. The Bible abounds with these wonderful and precious assurances to the faithful. “All things work together for good to them that love God” (Rom. 8:28). “As thy day is, so shall thy strength be” (Deut. 33:25). “My grace is sufficient for thee” (2 Cor. 12:9). When sin-stricken, burdened, and weary, From bondage I longed to be free, There came to my heart the sweet message: “My grace is sufficient for thee”. Though tempted and sadly discouraged, My soul to this refuge will flee, And rest in the blessed assurance: “My grace is sufficient for thee”. ***

  • 1. We are not conscious of soul winning opportunities and we don’t take advantage of those we have.  2. We assume public preaching will accomplish the task.  Research shows that “Friendship Evangelism” converts over 80% of the people. 3. We have left the task of “seeking the lost” to the…

  • Is attending Bible class on Sunday morning and Wednesday evening important? Is it just an old tradition that is hanging on? Some, it seems, don’t think that Bible study is important and they choose not to attend. Years ago, we used to hear the expression, “As goes the Bible School,…

  •   "And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the…

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