Faithfulness and the Sermon on the Mount

[Note: This MS is available in larger font on our Manuscripts page.] Introduction Christ does not require us to be rich, good-looking, multi-talented, socially prominent, or formally educated. There is one thing he requires of every one of his servants: faithfulness. The faith has been…

Paul’s Public Rebuke of Cephas—Galatians 2:11–21

[Note: This MS is available in larger font on our Manuscripts page.] Introduction Galatians 2:11–21 is a thought bridge. It is obvious from chapter 1:1–2:10 that two factors were at work among the churches of the region: Paul’s apostolic credentials and authority had come under…

Elders—Must All Have All the Qualifications?

[Note: This MS is available in larger font on our Brief Articles 1 page.] For the primitive church to be restored we must be concerned with restoring every feature of it as it appears on the pages of the New Testament. However, there are some…

Authority Structures in Local Churches

[Note: This MS is available in larger font on our Manuscripts page.] Introduction My two-fold responsibility in the assignment to write this material is to discuss the following: (1) situations in congregations which have no eldership and which must depend upon committees and/or trustees for…

“Automatic” Membership Placement?

[Note: This MS is available in larger font on our Brief Articles 1 page.] Through the years I have come across brethren who believed that merely visiting with a congregation for a few weeks or months thereby made them members, with no request on their…

The Church in Jerusalem

[Note: This MS is available in larger font on our Manuscripts page. Introduction On the Pentecost following our Lord’s resurrection and ascension “there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven,” plus numerous proselytes (Acts 2:5, 10).1 One historian estimates that…

The Scope of the Covenants —Is Christ’s New Covenant Only for Christians?

[Note: This MS is available in larger font on our Manuscripts page.] Introduction In the early 1950s W. Carl Ketcherside and Leroy Garrett were disturbing churches with their hobby that drew a distinction between gospel and doctrine. They alleged that only the “gospel” of the…

Micaiah, the Unheralded Prophet

[Note:  This MS is available in larger font on our Manuscripts  page.] Introduction Just as there are several men named “James” in the New Testament, there are several Old Testament characters named “Micaiah.” Although at least eight persons (including one woman) have this name, the…

“Movement in Transition”

[Note:  This MS is available in larger font on our Longer Articles page.] Some time ago an announcement in the bulletin of a large (1,000+ member) West Texas “Church of Christ” caught my eye. The church had planned a special summer series of Wednesday night lectures…

The Authority of Elders

[Note:  This MS is available in larger font on our Longer Articles  page.] Introduction The problem of authority is always with us. Most of the world does not even recognize the existence of God anymore, much less His authority. There have been those in the…