A better question would be who is the Silver Spring Church of Christ? We are a body of people who believe that Jesus Christ is Lord -- meaning that God lived on earth in the form of Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus Christ taught us how to live, died for our sins, rose from the dead (to demonstrate that He really was God) and now sits at the right hand of the Father.
Our congregation consists of people from every race, of many languages and nationalities (about 25 nations represented on a typical Sunday morning!), of all ages, educational levels, marital statuses, and economic levels.
We are all sinners who have thrown ourselves on the grace of God, and we live with a joy and peace because God graciously forgives. God's Holy Spirit lives in us, and changes us from what we should otherwise be without Him.
The following is a story that was passed on to
me. I don't know if the story is factual or if it's a parable
(a short story, featuring human characters, that teaches a principle
or lesson). A 92 year old, retired preacher was invited to
speak to the congregation. After being introduced, with great
effort he walked to the podium and steadied himself with both hands
on the pulpit. He began:
"When I was asked to come here today and talk to you, your elders
asked me to tell you what was the greatest lesson ever learned in my
50-odd years of preaching. I thought about it for a few days and
boiled it down to just one thing that made the most difference in my
life and sustained me through all my tri-als... The one thing that I
could always rely on when tears and heartbreak and pain and fear and
sorrow paralyzed me… the only thing that would comfort was this
verse…
"Jesus loves me this I know. For the Bible tells me so. Little
ones to Him belong, We are weak but He is strong... Yes, Jesus loves
me... The Bible tells me so."
The old minister stated, "I always noticed that it was the adults
who chose the children's hymn 'Jesus Loves Me' (for the children of
course) during a hymn sing, and it was the adults who sang the
loudest because I could see they knew it the best."
"Here for you now is a Senior version of Jesus Loves Me":
JESUS LOVES ME
Jesus loves me, this I know, Though my hair is white as snow
Though my sight is growing dim, Still He bids me trust in Him.
(CHORUS) YES, JESUS LOVES ME... YES, JESUS LOVES ME.. YES, JESUS
LOVES ME, FOR THE BIBLE TELLS ME SO.
Though my steps are oh, so slow, With my hand in His I'll go On
through life, let come what may, He'll be there to lead the way.
(CHORUS)
When the nights are dark and long, In my heart He puts a song...
Telling me in words so clear, "Have no fear, for I am near."
(CHORUS)
When my work on earth is done, And life's victories have been
won. He will take me home above, Then I'll understand His love.
(CHORUS)
I love Jesus, does He know? Have I ever told Him so? Jesus loves
to hear me say, That I love Him every day. (CHORUS)
-Carl Peters
