(Editor’s note: The following is a submission to The Recorder’s weekly column titled “Faith Matters.” Each Saturday, a different faith leader in Franklin County offers a personal religious perspective in this space. For information on becoming part of this series, email religion@recorder.com or call 413-772-0261, ext. 265.)
Did you know the word “love” is one of the most frequently used words in the Bible? It appears over 600 times! Examples of what love means can be found in 1Corinthians 13: 4-7. God makes it clear that if we as Christians do not have love, we have nothing (1Corinthians 13: 1-3). We as Christians, if we see a brother or sister in need and do nothing, how can we have the love of God in us? As stated in 1John 3: 17-18: If everyone had true love in their hearts, there would be no need for the 10 commandments, as it is written in Romans 13: 8-10. To conclude what we believe the Bible teaches on love, we refer to Matthew 22: 36-40, which states (36) “Teachers, which is the greatest commandment in the law? (37) Jesus replied, Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. (38) This is the first and greatest commandment. (39) And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. (40) All the law and the prophets hang on these two commandments.” This is how Christians are recognized as disciples of Christ, as stated in John 13: 35.
As we refer back to 1John 3: 17-18, (17) “If anyone has materials possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? (18) Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and truth.”
As we see a need in our community, we will be providing a free hot meal on Saturday, April 23, at the Greenfield Moose Family Center, located at 20 School St., Greenfield. Doors will be opened at 4:45 p.m. We will be serving a pasta dinner from 5 to 6 p.m. All are welcome to attend. The Loyal Order of the Moose donated the Moose Family Center free of charge. We look forward to meeting individuals who may be searching for spiritual growth. We as Christians do the work of planting the seed and watering it, but God is the one who makes it grow, as stated in 1Corinthians 3: 6-9.
We are a young congregation established two-and-a-half years ago full of love, children and life. It is important to include the children, as Jesus said in Luke 18: 15-17: “Let the little children come to me.” We as a congregation enjoy gathering together outside of the assembly to fellowship. We are taught this through various scriptures, one example being in Acts 2: 46-47: (46) “Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, (47), praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”
The Franklin County Church of Christ is a small family of believers who follow only what the Bible teaches. As stated in Revelations 22: 18-19, we do not add or subtract anything to God’s word. We do not believe in the paid preacher’s system due to the example the apostle Paul set for us in 2nd Thessalonians 3: 7-10. The men of the congregation use the abilities God gave them to lead the church. We meet at 10:30 a.m. Sunday mornings in the Green River Room at The Hampton Inn, located at 184 Shelburne Road in Greenfield. (NOTE: This Sunday only, April 17, due to a scheduled event at The Hampton Inn, worship service will happen at noon instead of 10:30 a.m.) We also offer Bible Study/Singing on Wednesday evenings. For more information, please contact Ed Williams at 860-463-5773 or 413-863-9304.