Weekly Devotional

“The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, ‘Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” John 1:29. An expression I saw during this contentious election season that we have just seen says, ‘Don’t let the elephant and donkey distract you when our focus should be on the Lamb.’ It expressed what I had been preaching on once per month since June this past year. In this rich first chapter of John’s gospel, John the Baptist, who was “the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord’” and would later describe himself as the friend who attends the bridegroom, would point out Jesus in this way to his followers as Jesus came towards him. He clearly understood Jesus’ purpose as the baby born to die for us as Jesus’ father did when an angel told Joseph not to be afraid to take Mary as his wife, “She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins” Matthew 1:21. In Revelation 5:6-9, Jesus appears as “a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain,” and are told that by His blood He “ransomed people for God.” Like John the Baptist could not do that for us, we too must point to Jesus.

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“Remember your congregation, which you have purchased of old, which you have redeemed to be the tribe of your heritage! Remember Mount Zion, where you have dwelt” Psalm 74:2. Whether the desola-tion of his nation is physical or just spiritual in nature, the psalmist raises up a national lament about the state of God’s people amidst such destruction. Perhaps this is what the church today could say as it looks out at all the cultural chaos going on all around her and so many, especially among the younger generations, not faithful to God’s kingdom. Rather, they seek spiritual fulfillment in all the wrong places. There’s a handful of faithful followers who are striving to live by God’s commands, but it would seem like God has abandoned them. “O God, why do you cast us off forever? Why does your anger smoke against the sheep of your pasture?” the psalm begins. Several times, God is asked to remember and not forsake them, to have regard for the covenant that He has made with them and not forget how His people’s enemies have scoffed. Of course, God would never forsake us, nor will his children be abandoned. We must trust in God to “arise” and “defend [His] cause.” 

Remembering My Friend Tom Butterfield

Tom D. Butterfield, 1940-2024

Published by Mark Mason, LCOC on December 5th, 2024            

This week I must tell you about my friend.  I say he was my friend because he was, but also because he was truly a friend to all he met.  He liked collecting friends like some people collect trading cards, or automobiles, or any other kind of collectible.  Tom made friends, cherished friends, connected friends, and built friendships.            

I speak of my friend and mentor in local church ministry, Tom D. Butterfield, who passed away last Saturday at the age of 84 in West Virginia.  Tom, along with his late father Tom W., and brother Bill, and uncle George, constitute over 100 years of continuous faithful Gospel preaching by Butterfields in the Ohio Valley region.  With Tom’s passing, this important era has come to an end.            

Tom was a bridge-builder above all.  He built bridges, not walls.  His favorite definition of evangelism was “I build a bridge from my heart to yours and let Jesus walk across.”  His favorite definition of preaching was “God’s Word does surgery upon my heart and I let you look over my shoulder and watch me bleed.”  Indeed, Tom built bridges, and bled, faithfully, for Jesus, for over 60 years.            

My relationship with Tom began when he agreed to let me do a ministry internship with him at the great and growing 36th Street church of Christ in Vienna, West Virginia, in the early 1990’s.  I was a Bible student who knew a lot of Bible, and Bible-related subjects, but knew next to nothing about how to work with people, how to serve a local church, and how to love others well.  Those things I largely learned from walking beside Tom for nearly 20 years.  I wish every young preacher could have the experience I did of being training in local ministry by a master practitioner like Tom Butterfield.            

I learned how to build bridges, how to let people watch me bleed, and how to share Jesus’ love from my friend.  Many others did too, but I reflect this week on what Tom helped me see and understand.  I hope the churches and individuals I have served have benefited from the things I learned from one of the great ministers of our time, my friend and yours.            

Rest well, friend.  See you soon on glory's shore.

"In Search of the Lord's Way" December Topics

SEARCH PROGRAMS December 2024 Topics subject to change without notice

DECEMBER 1 – TRUE WORSHIP People often want to tell us how they feel about worship these days, but we want to ask the question, “What does God want from our worship?” Worship must take into account the desires of God who is being worshiped.

DECEMBER 8 – THE WAY TO PEACE In these uncertain and chaotic times, peace is important to us all. Peace with God, with others, and within our souls can be one of the greatest blessings of all. The Scriptures teach us how to find peace.

DECEMBER 15 – GRIEVING The loss of a loved one can truly be a traumatic event. The Scriptures describe many examples of grieving. Thankfully, God gives us hope when we grieve by reminding us of our resurrection and the second coming.

DECEMBER 22 – BECAUSE OF JESUS When Jesus came to this world, He brought peace and goodwill to all men. We can hardly number all the blessings Jesus brought to us by becoming flesh, forgiving our sins, and giving us eternal life with Him in heaven.

DECEMBER 29 – THE WAY The Lord Jesus declared in John 14:6 that He is “the way.” He is indeed the way we live, the way we treat others, and the only way to draw close to our Father in heaven. Living “my way” is not the same as following the one true way.

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Attention:  36th Street Members

Our website contains much useful information for you as a member of the 36th street congregation.  We are updating and improving www.36thstreetchurch.com on an ongoing basis.

In order for you to take advantage of the full (members-only) benefits of the site, you need to set up a personal account on the site.  It's easy to do - just go to the homepage of the website and click on the 'MEMBERS' tab and select 'REGISTER' from the drop-down menu.  You will need to complete the form there and set up a username and password.  Your request will be forwarded to a web administrator, who will review the form and set you up in the system.

We encourage you to access the website and see how it can benefit you.