Reviewing Some Fundamental Principles

Views: 85[Note:  This MS is available in larger font on our Manuscripts  page.] Introduction The church as God planned it and as Christ built it is revealed in only one place: the New Testament. It is a Divine institution. It was no mere man—not even…

Calvinism and Neo-Calvinism

Views: 16[Note: This MS is available in larger font on our Manuscripts page.] Introduction “Calvinism” is not a single doctrine or even a few scattered, unrelated doctrines. It is a system of theology embracing several significant doctrines. These dogmas are all tightly woven together in…

Addressing Some Problem Passages in Romans

Views: 159[Note:  This MS is available in larger font on our Manuscripts  page.] Introduction The letter of Paul to the saints in Rome is generally acknowledged not only to be among the most profound documents in the Bible, but also in all of literature as…

A Sudden and Curious Emphasis on Balance   

Views: 113[Note:  This MS is available in larger font on our Manuscripts  page.] Introduction Has anyone else besides me noticed a recent upsurge in the cry for “balance” in preaching and writing? Further, am I the only one who has noticed that this emphasis is…

A Review of Alvin Jennings’ 3 Rs of Urban Church Growth

Views: 121[Note:  This MS is available in larger font on our Manuscripts  page.] Introduction  In 1981, a brother in Christ, Alvin Jennings, owner of Star Bible Publications, Inc., wrote and published a book titled, 3 R’s of Urban Church Growth. This book raised many eyebrows,…

A Response to Fellowship Compromises in the Church of Christ1

Views: 226[Note:  This MS is available in larger font on our Manuscripts  page.] Introduction Satan and all of his minions outside the church have always opposed it. He did his best to prevent the Lord from establishing the church in the first place. Although he…

Annihilationism—A Spiritually Fatal Innovation

Views: 108[Note:This MS is available in larger font on our Manuscripts  page.] Introduction Hell has fallen on hard times. The most frequent reference to it nowadays is as a term of cursing, swearing, or intensification of expression. Others use it in a weak attempt at…

Why the Plan of Salvation Was Necessary

Views: 87[Note:  This MS is available in larger font on our Longer Articles  page.] Introduction The Bible is a book about sin and a Savior. Paul announced wonderful news in this regard: There is therefore now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus….

What Ever Happened to the “First Principles”?

Views: 82[Note:  This MS is available in larger font on our Longer Articles  page.] To speak of “first principles” in any field of endeavor is to speak of things basic, elementary, fundamental, and rudimentary. The Hebrews writer referred to “the rudiments of the first principles…

Too Good to Be True

Views: 74[Note:  This MS is available in larger font on our Longer Articles  page. Introduction When the women who discovered the empty tomb of the Lord brought the news back to the apostles, they were at first incredulous, labeling it “idle talk” (Luke 24:8–11). This…