The End

​The title may seem a little odd and it is. The idea for any article is to inform or to make one think a little. Hopefully, this one will do both.

When the end of something comes then it is understood that it is completed. Time, then, to move on to something different or a new challenge. Perhaps it will be something complementing the former challenge or a brand new one that pushes oneself to be even better than before.

Consider the following passage:

Romans 10:4

For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.


Christ is the “end” of the law. This is an interesting choice of words here by the inspired Apostle Paul. When we think of Jesus, the word “end” may not be the first word that would be used to describe Him. Yet, in this context, it is exactly the precise word that was chosen and used to perfection. (For all of God’s word is perfect) Let us back up and read the previous verses with this one.

Romans 10:1-4

Brethren, my heart's desire and my prayer to God for them is for their salvation. For I testify about them that they have a zeal for God, but not in accordance with knowledge. For not knowing about God's righteousness and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.


Paul was pleading with his Jewish brothers to accept the righteousness based on faith and not on the keeping of the Mosaical Law. He wanted them to believe in the Christ who put an end to that law. The word “end” can be used as a termination point or the idea of reaching a specified destination. These two thoughts are complementary to one another. Jesus said He came not to abolish but to fulfill the law. (Matthew 5:17) And the fulfillment meant that it was replaced by a new and better covenant. (Hebrews 9:15; 12:24)

Therefore, Jesus is the “end of the law” and all should come to believe that He is the living Son of God. Not seeking righteousness by any other means but only through Him. Jesus has promised to prepare a place for those who are faithful and return to reward those who obey the gospel and to punish those who do not. (John 14:1-3; 2 Thessalonians 1:6-10) Are you prepared for that? Have you ended your life of sin wanting to only live for God in Christ? The time to end old ways is ever decreasing. Please put on Christ in baptism and end a life of living for self and begin a life in the Lord Jesus Christ serving others. Do so before your life’s end.

--Dan Curry

Campaigning is Strafford, MO

This weekend several members from Arnold have made the trip to Strafford, MO to knock doors and help the congregation evangelize for their Gospel Meeting. We have spent the morning in the streets of the town, inviting folks to services and sharing the Gospel with the lost. We are looking forward to some great opportunities for fellowship this afternoon! If you're in the area please stop in a visit with these great Christians!!!

I want to be pleasing to . . .

Dan Curry

How would you complete the title sentence?  It would probably depend on when the statement was being made.  For example if one was at work then it might be that one’s boss’s name would be the completion, or perhaps a co-worker.  If one was at home then probably the spouse or, if a child was the one stating the sentence, one’s parents.  Many people may come to mind that would be appropriate to complete the sentence.

However, one could and should be completing and meaning the sentence by inserting “the Lord”.  When we are pleasing to God and His Son then we will be pleasing to everyone else in our lives.  God has long had the principle that by living righteously in His sight then all of one’s life would be complete and have great meaning.

Consider these passages from God’s Word

Deuteronomy 6:1-5

"Now this is the commandment, the statutes and the judgments which the LORD your God has commanded me to teach you, that you might do them in the land where you are going over to possess it, so that you and your son and your grandson might fear the LORD your God, to keep all His statutes and His commandments which I command you, all the days of your life, and that your days may be prolonged.

 "O Israel, you should listen and be careful to do it, that it may be well with you and that you may multiply greatly, just as the LORD, the God of your fathers, has promised you, in a land flowing with milk and honey.

 "Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one!  "You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.

Deuteronomy 6:24-25

"So the LORD commanded us to observe all these statutes, to fear the LORD our God for our good always and for our survival, as it is today. “It will be righteousness for us if we are careful to observe all this commandment before the LORD our God, just as He commanded us.

Ephesians 6:1-3

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER (which is the first commandment with a promise), SO THAT IT MAY BE WELL WITH YOU, AND THAT YOU MAY LIVE LONG ON THE EARTH.

Psalm 119:142

Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, And Your law is truth.

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14

The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.  For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.

Matthew 6:33

"But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be added to you.

(all emphasis added- dc)

All of these scriptures point to pleasing God and desiring to live a righteous life in His sight.  When we are living our lives in this way then everyone benefits.  Live for God and strive to please Him in all things.

Planting in the Good Soil

This year the weather has been great for planting. The weather has been warm and the growing season has started. While planting the garden with the kids the other day I began thinking about the words of Christ. But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold. Mat13:8.

We have many evangelism opportunities here at Arnold this year. This month we will conduct a campaign to Strafford,MO. Later we will knock doors for our gospel meeting and continue for our Arnold evangelism program. We also have campaigns to Montego Bay, Jamaica; Eaglevile, MO; and Dyersberg, Please pray for these events. That we might reach the lost and plant in the good soil and that the Lord may be glorified by our actions.

Lads Rundown

Over the weekend we tried to keep all our readers up to date as to the goings on at the Lads Convention. Here is a rundown of numbers and events.

15 Adult participants

16 Student participants

Arnold participated in 10 of the 37 events offered in the Lads to Leaders and Leaderettes program. Arnold had six participate in the Twenty-six non-competitive events and four of the eleven competitive events. While Arnold only participated in six of the non-competitive events; we are utilizing many of the materials used to earn an award (i.e. Headed to the Office, GARD, GIFTS, PERLS). The event participation breaks down as follows; the numbers represent the number of participants from Arnold. Click here to view the rule book in PDF

Non-Competitive Events

Good Samaritan – 4

Centurion of Scripture – 5

Parade of Winners – 3

Year Round Speech –3

Year Round Song -4

Know the Books – 3

Competitive Events

Bible Bowl – 20

Scrapbook – 2

Speech – 13

Song – 13

The Lads and Leaderettes from Arnold did a super job this past year and it showed at the Friday and Saturday night awards. While the Lads program is a yearlong tool used at Arnold; the Annual convention is a nice pat on the back of encouragement for all the hard work done over the past year. Thank you to all the students, parents, elders, deacons and the Christians at the Arnold church of Christ for supporting such an essential tool in the Kingdom.

Lads 2012 Saturday Morning

Just downed a hardy Lads breakfast of Hotel Room Coffee and Chips Ahoy Cookies. Headed off with the rest of the adults to a crack of dawn judges meeting. Let the games begin.

Live From Lads to Leaders Convention 2012 Indianapolis

The first day of Convention is coming to a close. We are sitting in the awards ceremony now and I could not be prouder of the Arnold Lads and Leaderettes. The Friday night awards are for events that primarily take place over the course of the year and are non-competitive. These events focus on honing leadership skills, gaining biblical knowledge and service. Our youth participated in Good Samaritan, Centurion of Scripture, Parade of Winners, Year Round Speech and Song, and Know the Books. Each of the events that Arnold participated in are some of the most challenging and time consuming that the Lads program offers.

Good Samaritan: The participants earns points by doing good works.

Centurion of Scripture: The participant can earn an award by memorizing one hundred scriptures in groups of ten, fifty or all one hundred at a time.

Parade of Winners: Reading through either the New or Old Testament in a year.

Year Round Speech: A minimum of six speeches are to be given no less then two times in a year for a minimum of eighteen times.

Year Round Song: A minimum of six songs lead at least three times for a minimum of eighteen times over a year.

Know the Books: A three level award raining from knowing all the books of the bible to being able to provide the theme of each book.

Much more to come tomorrow. Our kids are participating in Speech, Song Leading, and Bible Bowl.