​We live in a world that is governed by laws.  When a law is broken, there will be consequences for breaking the law, whether it is a fine to be paid, service to perform, jail time, or even death.  In a very similar way, God has always had laws for those He created.  When His law is broken, there are consequences that follow.  For instance, when the angels chose to sin (breaking God’s heavenly law) they were cast down to Torments (2 Pet. 2:4).  When Adam and Eve chose to break God’s law in the garden, they brought death into the world and were driven out of the garden and away from the tree of life (Gen. 3:6,24).  Furthermore, when Nadab and Abihu broke God’s law in worship, they were punished with immediate death (Lev. 10:1,2).  All the wicked kings of Israel and even Judah who forgot God’s law came to ruin and even made God’s people to suffer the consequences of sin (1 Kings 16:19-31; 2 Chr. 28:2; 33:2-22).  Then, when Jesus came, He brought a new law (Heb. 7:12; 8:7-13).  As with all laws, the Law of Christ (Gal. 6:2) has consequences when it is broken—spiritual death (1 John 3:4; Rom. 6:23).
With this in mind, the church of Christ is sometimes called, “legalistic.” The idea is that there is too much of an emphasis on keeping God’s law rather than grace and love.  Some would say the church should focus more on “getting along” with other religions than emphasizing the importance of keeping God’s Law in worship, fellowship, and personal life.  But, how can anyone expect to receive God’s blessings without being loyal to His commands? It is clear that God only blesses His people when they are obedient (Deu. 28:2; Rev. 22:14).  It is also clear that the New Testament is a law (Rom. 8:2; Gal. 6:2; James 1:25).  Therefore, when a person obeys the commands of the New Testament Law, that is when he will be blessed.  If not, the eternal consequences of punishment will follow (John 12:48; Luke 12:43-48).
In the end, legalism is not looking to the Scriptures for authority and using the New Testament for doctrine and practice—that is simply “holding fast the faithful word” as God desires (Titus 1:9).  However, if a person is making laws for God and acting as a modern day “Pharisee” then a true legalistic mindset has taken over (Mat. 23:23).  A righteous person will see that God has a law to follow, under His grace, and carefully follow after Him in loving obedience (John 1:17; 14:15; Mat. 5:20; Rom. 6:14). 
~Derrick Coble

If you haven’t noticed by now, with the emphasis on Jesus’ name for Vacation Bible School, the name of Jesus is the most important name of all.  Isaiah foretold that a virgin would bear a son whose name would be “Immanuel” (Isa. 7:14) and this was fulfilled in Mary giving birth to Jesus (Mat. 1:21-23). Jesus came to save people from their sins and His name would prove to be powerful:

• We have life through his name (John 20:31)
• We are baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38)
• We preach the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ (Acts 8:12)
• We can speak boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus (Acts 9:29)
• We put our lives on the line for the name of the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 15:26)
• We give our thanks to God in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ (Eph. 5:20)
• We will all bow at the name of Jesus one day (Phi. 2:10)
• We must do everything in religion by the name of the Lord Jesus (Col. 3:17)
• We glorify the name of the Lord Jesus Christ (2 The. 1:12)

No wonder Jesus should be the center of our lives!  His name is “far above . . .every name that is named” (Eph. 1:21) as “God as highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name” (Phi. 2:9). Jesus is our Savior and the only way to the Father (John 14:6).  Let us hold up His great name as we follow Him alone throughout life and into eternity! “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). 
​~Derrick Coble

​When a person has an open mind he is willing to consider new ideas.  He tries to eliminate prejudice or pre-conceived thoughts about something and honestly tries to evaluate the new concept in all fairness.  In other words, when a person with an open mind hears something new, his first answer is not, “No” and his first thought is not negative or suspicious of evil.  The open-minded person seeks to learn more about what is new with interest and challenges himself to give full consideration to the new idea before making a decision.  In the Lord’s church today it is sometimes difficult for members to truly have an open mind.  This challenge comes from those who say, “This is the way we have always done it” or, “I have never seen it done like that before.”  It comes from long standing traditions on optional matters that members may often believe are not optional but, “the way it should be.”  It is needful for each Christian to remember that there are God-given “traditions” that must be kept (2 The. 2:15); yet, there are other traditions such as: using song books, meeting twice on Sunday, or ending each service with a prayer that are not to be Scripturally bound.  From God’s vantage point, being open-minded is a good thing.  In fact, the Bereans were praised for this character trait: “These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so” (Acts 17:11).  According to Strong’s the term, “noble” literally means, “well-born.”  It was used by Greeks to refer to those of noble birth; yet, was also applied to those who are of noble character and open to evidence. Luke recorded a contrast between the Jews in Thessalonica and those in Berea.  Among those in Thessalonica, only “some of them believed” (Acts 17:4); however, in Berea “many of them believed” (Acts 17:5).  What was the reason for the difference?  Those in Berea were “more noble” or, it could be said, more “open-minded” to the Truth.  The result of this good character trait was that they received the word with eagerness and examined what he said with the Scriptures—not with their pre-conceived beliefs.  Let us all truly resolve to be like the noble minded Bereans investigating and using God’s Word as the only religious guide and authority (Col. 3:17; Titus 2:15).  ~Derrick Coble