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SPECIAL FREE MANUAL FOR SONG LEADERS
Music Fundamentals for Song Leaders
Congregational “singing schools”…provided training for song leaders for several generations. These had already begun to disappear by the 1960s. Observing that void prompted me, in 1965, to prepare a booklet for those who lead singing in our worship assemblies…I was…prompted to pull my old, age-yellowed copy from its file when a young, inexperienced song leader indicated that he woujld welcome such help. My copy was so unattractive and inadequate in many ways that I was too embarrassed to give it to anyone. Rather, I decided to produce a “new and improved” version, thus taking advantage of attractive printing, type, and graphics, as well as improving its content…
Some of the most pitiable people in the world are those whose personalities have been warped by ultra-strict, extra-harsh, unnecessarily restrictive parental despotism. Parents must be aware of the danger of abusing their children in this way.…
I was thumbing through an office supply catalog recently when I found an entire page of collection stickers.…intended to “encourage” people who are delinquent in their bills to make their payments.…
Some people are so self-conscious about what others think about them as to be unbalanced. They slink around, afraid to speak or act, for fear that someone will criticize them. They are right, of course.
Those who have experienced life-threatening situations understand the meaning of peril.… Few ever consider the fact that spiritual perils are far more consequential than physical ones. Jesus put these perils in perspective: “And be not afraid of them that kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul….
I have noticed that some people do not like to sit in the center section of pews during worship because they feel the cold air blowing directly on them. Some of the ladies who sit there have had to reach for their wraps or borrow a coat from their gentlemanly husband before the last “Amen.” Admittedly, this is somewhat of a problem.…
The Lord wants us to be a people of prayer (Luke 19:46), but too often we are like the apostles in Gethsemane, sleeping when we should be praying
Practical Problems of Preachers
Preaching the gospel in a community, working with a local church, has its problems. If there are still any people so naïve as to think that preachers “have it made” since “they only have to work three hours a week and can do what they want to the rest of the time,” maybe I can help bring you along to reality.
We all are subject to drifting into behavior and speech habits that convey unscriptural concepts. Sometimes such speech habits are manifested in the prayers in our assemblies. Such mistakes are doubtless made innocently, but they are mistakes, nonetheless….
Prayer—to Whom and Through Whom
Prayer is the blessed avenue God has provided his children for talking with him. He has given us instruction, both plain and plentiful, concerning how to pray in a manner that he will be pleased to hear….
Preachers and Preaching—An Overview
Pride is a temptation of special severity to preachers because they are constantly in the public eye. People often ask them questions, seek their counsel, and praise them. A preacher can begin to believe all those nice things people may write or say about him. (Of course, his wife and some of the brethren may help him keep in touch with reality!)
God’s preachers are in prison yet, But unlike Paul of old; The bars and chains God’s preachers get today, are manifold.…
Pastor may be the word most frequently used to describe a preacher’s work (e.g., “John Smith is the pastor of the ___________ church”).
More and more over the past few years we have heard how desperately we need to hear “positive preaching.” I would guess that there are few preachers around who haven’t heard people say this in their presence or suggest it to them. I agree.
The older I get and the more I observe what some brethren are doing and saying, the more convinced I become that the Lord’s people do not know much about church history.
I am noticing more and more that the very errors I was exposing in the denominational doctrine and practice in the 1960s and 1970s I am now having to expose in our brethren who have adopted them….
The ideal sermon deals with the needs of those in the pew. The unending quest of those who preach must be to find the real needs of people and meet them with inspired truth. However, one does not preach very long until he is stuck with the fact that what people need and what they desire are often far apart.
In America the heinous philosophies of Hedonism, Humanism, Atheism, and Liberalism (political, theological, and moral) and the climate for persecution of the opposing force of Christianity (in the broadest sense) have increased in parallels in the final quarter of the twentieth century. It seems likely that these trials and tests to our faith will only accelerate…
It is not unusual to hear uncomplimentary remarks made about those who are supported by others while they preach the Gospel. Often we are referred to as “professional preachers” in a derogatory way.
Public School and Bible School
It is such a widely acknowledged truism that strong churches do not exist without a strong Bible school that we need not even bother to document it. Generally, the stronger the Bible school, the stronger that church is going to be.
Purposes of First Century Miracles
Why did God empower men in the first century to work miracles? One of the Biblical words for “miracle” (semeion) provides a clue.
After sending back stunning pictures of Saturn (1980), Uranus (1986), and Neptune (1989), Voyager 1 escaped the gravitational pull of the Sun, and in 1998, this high-tech machine became the most distant man-made object in space,….
In 2007 I wrote a manuscript for the Bellview Lectures, Pensacola, Florida, titled, “Building up the Church Through Singing.” In it I briefly mentioned that some of the songs in the books we commonly use emphasize patriotism far more than praise to God and His Son. I cited the example of “America the Beautiful.” This song references God several times, but it praises our nation more than Him (if it does the latter at all)….
Some people do not like the facts of history, so they ignore them and write their own version. A case in point is the American Nazi Party that is constantly publishing denials that Hitler’s policies of genocide actually destroyed millions of Jews during the 1930s and 1940s.…
The needs of youth are many. The needs of singles, widows, the elderly and middle-agers are also many. Needs may differ from group to group, but many of them are also quite common.
When a person reads or is taught Bible Truth, he must make a response. In fact, it is impossible not to respond, for a refusal to accept what one learns and to act upon it is a response itself.…
As Israel approached Sinai on the way to Canaan they murmured against Moses and Aaron because of hunger (Exo. 16:1–3). It is important for us to notice that Moses correctly perceived that this murmuring actually represented rebellion against God: “Your murmurings are not against us, but against the Lord”….
The challenges of recent decades to authority in home, school, marketplace, and military were bound to have their parallels in religion.…Until a few decades ago, most Protestant preachers and churches claimed to believe in the Bible and its authority, but in the intervening years, the seminaries have all but destroyed that faith by producing a constant stream of unbelieving pulpiteers.…
God has never forced anyone to obey Him. Similarly, Jesus Christ never coerced anyone to serve Him. Rather, He invitesmen to follow Him: “Come unto me…” (Mat. 11:28). Men may reject Him and His Word, but not without cost:…
It is a sad fact that the majority of humankind in every generation rejects God by rejecting His Word. Such was all but universal in the wicked age of Noah; all but eight persons of the ante-diluvian populace rejected God. Only two of those Hebrews who crossed the Red Sea later crossed Jordan into Canaan….
At only two moments of history has the majority of mankind revered the will of its Creator—in the Garden of Eden before Eve sinned (Gen. 3:6) and after the Flood cleansed the earth (7:17–23). Ever since, both sacred and profane history record the constant sad story of the rejection of God by most of mankind.
How do men reject Jesus? What attitudes or activities constitute such rejection? Jesus answers….
Some time ago a denomination in Dallas, Texas, advertised its aim as “relationship, not religion.” When I read it, I thought, “At last, Truth… in advertising!”…
A Pew Poll of 35,000 Americans, released in June 2008, revealed some interesting statistics about religious beliefs. More than half (57%) of “evangelicals” (strong in their belief in the Bible and in Jesus as God’s only begotten Son, right?), opined that Christianity is not the only way to Heaven…..
The challenges of recent years to authority in home, school, marketplace and military were bound to have their parallels in religion….
How can this be? Doesn’t religious equal saved? “It makes no difference what you believe as long as you’re sincere” is a very old slogan that implies as much….
What about religious controversy? Is it proper to “argue” about religious questions? Some will always be around who thrive on argumentation and disputation, always spoiling for a fight with those who disagree with them.
Acronyms have long been popular, especially in government and politics. Two of these in current use relate to the major political parties.… In religion, those who claim to be Jesus’ disciples, but who teach and act otherwise, may accurately be called religious “DINOS”—disciples in name only.…
The term “pluralism,” when applied to religion, lauds diversity. Wickipedia states: “Religious pluralism holds that no single religion can claim absolute authority to teach absolute truth”…
A great variety of titles and terms of address exist relative to those who occupy places of religious leadership, especially those who preach or hold ecclesiastical office…All that matters to devout Bible students, however, is what, if anything, the Bible says about them, which indeed it does, both explicitly and implicitly….
In one of the many church bulletins received at the office every week, there appeared the following words in an article on the subject of becoming a Christian. “Repent of your faith in him, be buried with him in baptism unto the forgiveness of your sins.”
Jesus twice stated, “except ye repent, ye shall…perish” (Luke 13: 3–5). His statement signals the indispensable place of repentance in the scheme of redemption. We will thus do well to understand its meaning and its relationship to other elements of the Lord’s plan of salvation.…
Peter has a helpful statement on resisting the devil:
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist steadfast in the faith, . . . (1 Pet. 5:8-9)….
The Bible claims inspiration for itself in both the Old and New Testaments. One does not read far in the New Testament without being struck by the reverence of its writers (and those whom they quote) for the Old Testament as the very Word of God.
A failure to observe and follow the meaning of words as they are used in Scripture is one of the major causes of religious confusion…Words relating to preachers are among the most abused.
Much, if not most, of the religious division and confusion in our world is a result of man’s failure to respect and use terms of Scripture as they are used in Scripture.
One does not really respect the Word of God unless he respects the words of the Word of God, for the words are inspired (1 Cor. 2:13). Lack of respect for scriptural terms and their scriptural meanings has wrought much of the religious division and confusion to be seen in modern Christendom.
If the Lord’s displeasure was clearly upon those who would break even the least com- mand of the inferior covenant (which was soon to pass away), how much more shall His wrath be upon those who disrespect the superior covenant of Calvary?…
A great paradox of our times is that millions remain unemployed while the newspapers are full of job opportunities. Another problem of employers is to find someone who knows how to work or wants to learn how. The problem among many people is that they have seldom been around anybody who knows what work is or how to work….
Respecting Authority—a Basic Principle
In every system there is a basic, principle (nucleus) that determines the spirit and operation of the whole. In God’s plan for man, the basic principle is respect for and obedience to appropriate authority….
“After praying over a freezer for more than two hours, a preacher admitted Sunday that he had failed to raise his mother from the dead” (Fort Worth Star Telegram, 3/13/78, p. 3). So reads the report of Daniel Aaron Rogers, who froze the corpse of his mother when she died February 2, 1978 in Harrison Arkansas.…
Without intending to be pessimistic, it appears to me that our world has suffered a large-scale “retreat from excellence” in recent years.
The New Testament not only frequently and plainly tells us that Jesus Christ will return, but it also tells us what things will occur when He comes….
Some people do not like the facts of history, so they ignore them and write their own version. A case in point is the American Nazi Party that is constantly publishing denials that Hitler’s policies of genocide actually destroyed millions of Jews during the 1930s and 1940s.
Our nation is in manifold difficulties that threaten to destroy the America the Founders envisioned and of which many of us have long been proud citizens. These troubles include dire economic woes at home and crisis conditions abroad. Even deeper problems relate to the loss of faith in God, in the Bible as the Word of God, and of a moral compass and core….
Jesus taught the disciples to pray for God’s forgiveness as they were forgiving toward one another Mat. 6:12). Then he added that God forgives us only if we forgive others (vv. 14–15)
Only two kinds of civil government exist: The rule of law or the rule of men. When law prevails (assuming its nobility), all are treated equally because law is objective, and plays no favorites.… When men rule, they use the law only when it favors their cause or when it rewards their friends and/or punishes their enemies…
By salvation we refer to the forgiveness of sins whereby the sinner enjoys the grace of God and the hope of eternal life. Does God allow men their choice of saviors or other factors in their pursuit of salvation? The New Testament answers with a definitive “No.”….
In spite of the plainest teachings of the New Testament, men persist in teaching the doctrine of salvation by “faith only.” History reveals that the doctrine was first given great emphasis, (if not invented) by Martin Luther in the 16th century.
Salvation, the End of Your Faith
Salvation summarizes the theme of the Bible in one word. There are many sub-themes in Scripture, but all must bow to the overarching theme of salvation.
Sanctify and Sanctification are New Testament words that are part of the same word family as holy, holiness, and saint. Saint is the common designation for Christians in the New Testament, appearing fifty-six times.
Just as God is depicted from the beginning of the Bible as the source of all that is good, pure, and true, Satan is identified as a spirit-being who is the source of every malevolent principle, act, and consequence. Thus, it was Satan in the form of a serpent who sought and secured man’s first evil act and consequence….
…God ordered man to subdue the earth and to have dominion over fish, fowl, and land animals (Gen. 1:28). God thus authorized the experimentation and observation necessary to scientific studies. Clearly, the Bible believer has no cause to oppose genuine science….
The exhortation, Be not deceived, appears several times in the New Testament. Each occurrence prefaces some special danger and should serve as a “red flag” of warning. Accordingly, we will be wise to note some of these.…
When we read, Be not deceived, in Scripture, a special “red flag” of warning is being given. In 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 Paul raised one of these “red flags”:
In 1 Corinthians 15:33 is another be not deceived passage, sending up a “red flag” of warning: “Be not deceived: evil companionships corrupt good morals” (ASV)….
In Galatians 6:7 we find another “red flag” of warning: “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.”…
James 1:16 contains another “red flag,” warning us against deception: “Be not deceived, my beloved brethren (ASV).” This warning looks backward to what James had just written about temptation, sin, and death….
Does Scriptural silence grant freedom to act in religious matters, as many allege? Does the silence of the Bible have a prohibitive force? How shall we deal with the silence of Scripture?
Scriptural Silence Sometimes Forbids
Those who divided the church over a century ago by forcing in the missionary society and the instrument had to deny the significance of Scriptural silence concerning both innovations.
What about the practice of churches that have a “youth director”? Is the practice authorized by Scripture? I suppose the answer would be affected by what his duties and responsibilities are.…
Jesus forever settles where God’s church, the kingdom on earth, should come in one’s list of values: “But seek ye first his kingdom, and his righteousness”…
There are some perverted folk who enjoy strife and controversy. Some actually revel in a good fight or even in warfare. I am sure that most folk prefer peaceful relations with their family, neighbors, friends and brethren. This should surely be the aim of the Christian…
Postmodernism is the buzzword for today’s sophisticates who purport to have transcended the outmoded standards that have well served mankind from the beginning and Western Civilization for centuries….Postmodernism repudiates the concepts of objective standards and exclusive, propositional Truth claims….
A few generations ago, the cry was “know thyself.” Then it became, “assert thyself.” It appears that this is one of the fruits of the rising tide of godless humanistic philosophy that is increasingly penetrating the minds of men. It exalts the human being as the apex of all things.…
In his second letter to Timothy, the apostle Paul urged his spiritual protégé to meekly correct “them that oppose themselves” (2:25). This statement is a striking one, and provokes the question, “Why would one be so foolish as to oppose himself?”….
When Jesus reminded the apostles of His own service to others, He used it as an example of how they should serve (Mat. 20:27). He taught them that true greatness lay not in being served, but in serving….
The Bible teaches the doctrine of “separation” throughout. God requires His people to recognize that they distinctly belong to Him and to behave accordingly. God gave Israel His Law through Moses to keep them distinct from the other nations until the promised seed should come…
The spirit of humble service is one of the great themes of the Bible. Jesus said, “And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant” (Mat. 20:27). He also said, “And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted”
Just as historians have long recognized man’s great achievements of architecture and engineering as the “seven worders of the world,” discerning men through the ages have recognized that the Bible is a book of many wonders.
For several years it has been the practice of some religious groups (including the Independent Christian Church) to appoint “deaconesses.” Predictably, some of the “faddists” among us are adopting the practice. Is there Scriptural warrant for it?
Should Christians Oppose Evil?
Many have come dangerously close to adopting a fatal attitude toward evil practices. I am speaking of the attitude that reasons, “It will do no good to oppose evil; people are going to practice it anyway.”
Certainly, I believe that preachers should aim at answering questions in the minds of the listeners. Preachers should strive to stay in touch with the questions people have on their hearts as they come into the assembly and should seek to provide answers to these questions from the Word of God.
A deadly disease attacked our beautiful native live oak trees a number of years ago called “live oak decline.…”A deadly disease that destroys Christians could well be called “spiritual decline.”…
Simple New Testament Christianity
The only thing that Jesus ever promised to build was His church …. It was of such exceeding worth to Him that He paid the ultimate price of His own blood for it …. He loved it so deeply that He “gave himself up for it”…
Our world thinks sin is hilarious. The formerly suggestive lines and scenes in movies and TV have given way to the explicit. The dirty joke and four-letter vocabulary are sources of great fun to most people….
The writer of Hebrews warned: “Take heed…lest any one of you be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin” (3:12–13). Deceit is the act of giving a false impression, by appearance, direct statement, or influence….
To be deceitful is to give a false impression by appearance, direct statement, or influence. Sin is never honest. It always wears a mask, pretending to be something it is not. It does its deceitful work so well that most of the world has been deceived by it.…
I borrowed the idea for the following article from one Steve Gibson authored several years ago. At the time he wrote it, Steve was sound in his teaching and behavior.
Theistic evolution is wrong because evolution is wrong.
Social drinking is wrong because drinking is wrong….
Every Sunday morning, Bible classes for every age are conducted in congregations across the world. Lamentably, many of our people do not take advantage of these classes.
It is not uncommon to hear the following (or similar) words uttered in the prayer before the contribution on the Lord’s day: “Father, bless us as we give this small portion back to thee.” Is this prayer in harmony with the New Testament teaching about giving?…
Various other brethren and I have expressed grave concerns occasionally over the rampant apostasy of the large and prominent universities operated by members of the church (e.g., PU, ACU, DLU, HU, et al.). Inadvertently, in focusing on them, we have neglected to call attention to the same phenomenon occurring on the campuses of some of the small colleges in remote areas.
In connection with his instruction to mark and avoid those who divide the church, Paul warned that such employ “smooth and fair speech” to “beguile the hearts of the innocent”…
There is more and more evidence the many of us who have been warming the pews for several years are interested in really getting serious about serving Christ. To encourage this movement, I want to offer what I believe to be some practical suggestions for pumping renewed Spiritual life into your soul.
Occasionally I am asked questions about the Masonic Lodge and whether a man can be both a faithful Christian and a faithful Mason simultaneously. It is a question worth considering, for it touches quite a few people. I freely admit that there are some noble men in Masonry and that the Lodge does some noble things and stands for some noble principles. However,…
It fell my lot to count the contribution one week back in 1973. It was an eye-opener!…I really believe it would be good for every family in the church to count the contribution at least one time.…
Some Things We Should Not Fear
Fear is more often than not the cause of our failures. There is a wholesome side of fear. We must fear God and fear the evils of false doctrines and evil practices. Largely, however, it seems that we fear the wrong things.…
I have often said that we preach our own funerals by the way we live. If I have not lived in such a way as to please God, all of the remarks a preacher may make over me will not change that….
It is apparent that Liberalism cannot be defined merely in terms of a list of theological positions, but that it is rather an attitude toward religion in general.…
Some Thoughts on Writing, Editing, and Publishing
Those who write, edit, and publish material for others to read have weighty responsibilities that “go with the territory.” This is especially true of those who produce religious materials…
What if the church where you worship met every day of the week instead of only two days a week? What if the sermon lasted four or five hours on Sunday instead of thirty or forty minutes? What if your food was taken away for an entire day the first time you forsook the assembly?…
The worship of Almighty God is both an exalted privilege and an awesome responsibility. Failure to grasp this truth plunged the likes of Cain (Gen. 4), Nadab and Abihu (Lev. 10), and King Saul (1 Sam. 13) into terrible calamities….
The Biblical record of the birth of Jesus Christ notably omits the date of its occurrence and any record of a special observance of the occasion. Although twenty centuries distant, it is still a subject of great wonder for several reasons….
Harold Kushner, a Jewish rabbi, wrote a book titled, Who Needs God? According to reviewer, Don Feder, (a syndicated columnist) in Kushner’s view of deity and religion, “absolutely no one.” The book is typical liberal theology, which adapts god and religion to current behavior and thought patterns….
In the drama of living the Christian life, temptation is an ever-present factor for those who serve the Lord. He suffered it (Mat. 4:1–11) and recognized the reality of it in our lives when by mentioning it in His teaching prayer (Mat. 6:13).…
Just when I think I have “heard it all,” something else comes along to prove that I had not. This is particularly true of the subject of marriage, divorce, and remarriage….
Surely, one of the most appealing themes of the New Testament is freedom or liberty in Christ. Sadly, many have mistaken liberty for license, freedom for lack of law or restraint whatsoever.
Remember those “good old days” when we played our childhood games? One of the games every child plays is “leapfrog.” I remember it well.…Some people never outgrow this game but carry it from childhood right up into adulthood….
Spiritual Strength Is Available
Paul commanded, “Be strong in the Lord” (Eph. 6:10). The fact that we are ordered to be spiritually strengthened necessarily implies that it is possible for us to attain such strength….
In writing to Timothy, Paul warns him about words that are of “no profit,” but that are “to the subverting of them that hear.” To Titus, he writes of “many unruly men, vain talkers, and deceivers…whose mouths must be stopped; men who overthrow whole houses, teaching things which they ought not…
The last several years have seen our nation move increasingly closer to becoming a “welfare state.” Few are those who object to helping those who truly need help and are not able to help themselves.
“Spirituality” is the state or condition of being spiritual, that is, of attending to and being influenced by the spirit world, rather than merely by the material world.…
The whole point of a soldier’s being well-armed is not for the parade ground, the reviewing stand, or mock maneuvers, but for the field of combat. The reason we are to “take up the whole armor of God” is that we “may be able to withstand in the evil day, and, having done all, to stand”
Stewardship—a “Life and Death” Matter
When God called the hoarding, selfish farmer a “fool” and told him he would die that very night, He asked a soul-piercing question: “And the things which thou hast prepared, whose shall they be?”
Some seem to think that those of us who continue to warn of the perils of militant atheism and humanism are merely alarmists. They reason, “Surely, it couldn’t be all that bad.”…
Once the Lord healed a man of palsy and the reaction of the bystanders was amazement as they said, “We have seen strange things today” (Luke 5:26). While the days of miracles are past, the days of “strange things” are still very much with us….
Satan will see that “. . . all that would live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution” (2 Tim. 3:12). Peter wrote some words designed to produce courage in the face of persecution:
Just as God’s people in the Old Testament had their physical armies to wage war against the enemies of God, so His New Testament people are figuratively depicted as soldiers engaged in the never-ending battle against iniquity and error.
Paul commanded, “Be strong in the Lord” (Eph. 6:10). The fact that we are ordered to spiritually strong necessarily implies that it is possible for us to attain such strength. The Lord does not press orders upon His people that are beyond our accomplishment….
The world has shifted drastically in its frame of reference since the beginning of the 20thcentury. From what was once a majority of men who believed in the God of the Bible and who at least gave lip-service to the Bible as the revelation of God’s will to man, the majority has now shifted to God-ignoring (if not God-denying), Bible-ridiculing skepticism and secularism.…
To attack the claims of scientists that deny God’s creative work and advocate evolution as the explanation of origins is not to attack science. It needs to be understood that true religion and true science never conflict.…
Evolution is a harmless enough word that simply means change in its general usage. For example, it can be said that the automobile of today shows many signs of evolution when compared with Henry Ford’s original car. However, the evolutionary scientists do not refer to such a simple definition of the word…
How did man and his universe originate? By creation or evolution? These are really the only two causes that have been seriously suggested or that seem to be conceivable to the minds of men…
The believer in the creation of all things by an all-powerful, personal God readily admits that such faith rests upon such assumptions as the existence of such a God, the existence of a revelation from that God, the absolute reliability and truthfulness of that revelation, that the Bible is that revelation and other like matters.…
If the evolutionary explanation concerning the origin of things in general, and life in particular, is correct, then certain other things must follow…
The evolutionary presupposition concerning the origin of life requires belief in the spontaneous generation of both non-living and living matter. It also requires that living matter be originally produced by non-living matter. Both premises are totally illogical and unscientific…
If evolution really did occur, there must be proofs of it in our natural world. The fossil record is claimed as the “most direct line of proof,” and yet, upon examination, it results only in embarrassment for the evolutionist.…
A few more thoughts need to be presented on the fossil records before other aspects of this important subject are considered. I remind you that the evolutionist considers paleontology, the study of fossils, to be his most direct line of evidence for his theory.
The atheistic evolutionist, who utterly denies the creation account in the Bible, is much more logically consistent than the theistic evolutionist who tries to hold on to a belief in God while twisting the Scriptures to fit his evolutionary hypothesis.…
A pivotal question relating to the plausibility of the theory of evolution with its ages lasting millions of years is, “How long were the days of creation in Genesis 1?”
The acceptance of the days of Genesis 1 as literal 24-hour periods is not only the most natural interpretation, but it is also harmonious with scientific fact. The fact remains that no one would ever have considered the days of creation as other than actual 24-hour periods except for the attempt to bend Bible teaching into conformity with unproved, atheistic theories of man’s origin.
Much more could be said on this subject, but with this article, the series will be brought to a close. Perhaps it is appropriate to conclude with some summary statements.
It doesn’t just seem like the preaching that comes from most pulpits across the land is different from what it was several years ago—it is different.
The two elements involved in success in the Lord’s work are. 1) A singularity of purpose to grow, go forward, progress, and abound in spiritual activity; 2) The need to let our work be governed by the Lord….
Faithfulness to Christ cannot be measured apart from willingness to suffer for His sake. In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus said: “Blessed are they that have been persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye when men shall reproach you, and persecute you, and say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake…”.
It is universally accepted that in the practice of medicine it is both wiser and more effective to treat the cause of a disease rather than merely the symptoms. The best doctors are those who can diagnose the cause of an illness accurately and give proper medicine or treatment for it.
A preacher preached on profanity, knowing of at least one brother who would be there who was a notorious offender. After plainly denouncing the sin of an evil tongue, he hoped to see some sign of penitence in the offender.
The aim of our arch-Adversary from the beginning has been to persuade us to abandon God’s perfect standard of behavior to walk in his unprincipled paths. Temptation describes the tool by which Satan encourages our involvement in forbidden, albeit pleasurable fulfillments of fleshly desires.
I have listed and briefly discussed ten reasons why I believe it is good for young people to sit near the front during worship. These reasons assume that these young people can behave well enough to sit away from their parents. If they cannot (be they 8 or 18), they should sit with their parents until they are properly trained.…
Many of our words are related to the passage of time. We have the precise measurements of seconds, minutes, hours, etc. We also use many words to approximate time lapse (“whiles”, “moments”, “bits”, “later”, “soon”, “sometime”, “jiff”, etc.)
Do you ever look at your friends and neighbors and wonder how they have nicer clothes, a bigger car, a finer house, take an expensive vacation every year and eat better than you, and yet, they make about the same salary?…
In Hebrews 4:12, the inspired writer tells us that God’s Word is not only living but “active” (powerful—KJV).Energes is the Greek word here used. It is rendered “effectual” in Philemon 6 and 1 Corinthians 16:9. Harper’s Lexicon defines energes as follows: “Active, …efficient, energetic …adapted to accomplish a thing.”
We live in a cause-effect universe—every effect must have a cause, yea, an adequate or sufficient cause, to explain it. A wristwatch implies a watchmaker. A house implies a designer and builder. The computer on which these words are being written required great wisdom and skill to conceive, design, and build.
The Appropriateness of Warnings
When compared with his letters to the Corinthians, the Galatians, or to Timothy and Titus, Paul’s letter to the Philippians is couched in very mild terms.
The Barren Fig Tree Cursed and Withered
When Jesus cursed the fig tree on the way to Jerusalem from Bethany it appears that his principal intent was to demonstrate God’s judgment upon fruitlessness and hypocrisy, especially as they were exemplified by official Judaism….
Illness is a universal phenomenon. It doesn’t depend upon whether one is rich or poor, righteous, or unrighteous, what race he may be, or the age in which he may have lived. It is something that all men experience to some degree, sooner or later
It is interesting to observe differences between older and younger generations of people. One of the most striking differences has to do with moral values of the respective generations.
Faith and belief (in their various cognates) are among the most frequently found words and concepts in the Bible. They are also among the most misunderstood and abused Biblical words.
The Bible’s Great Claim of Inspiration
The Bible claims to be the exclusive revelation of the true and living God. The Old Testament prophets enjoin, “Hear the word of the Lord,” or like expressions, hundreds of times. Paul declared that God revealed the long-hidden “mysteries” relating to human redemption (i.e., the NewTestament) to the apostles by means of the Holy Spirit…
Is God a being of wrath to be feared or Is he a benevolent person to be loved? What is the proper response of man to Jehovah: fear or love? Or is it possible that both motives of response are appropriate?…
Baptism is a frequent subject of the New Testament. When its function and purpose are understood, it is not surprising that it receives so much emphasis.
“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!” (Psa. 133: 1). If God’s people in any community are to accomplish anything worthwhile, unity is not only good, it is absolutely necessary!…
The Blight of Beverage Alcohol
The news media are constantly informing us of the terrible results of drunkenness. Over a recent holiday season several state officials issued frequent reminders that drunken drivers are the chief culprits in highway fatalities.…
Secularism, atheism, and humanism are arrayed against the Bible as never before in our nation. They seek to stamp all Biblical influences from public life. There could hardly be a greater irony, given the general faith of the Founding Fathers and the Biblical influence present in our founding documents….
“Career” connotes a type of work or a profession for which one prepares, and which one pursues. The term usually implies a job or profession outside of the home.
Our physical world and we, ourselves are not eternal; death, decay, and depletion remind us that the material universe is temporary. This important fact implies another: if we and our world are not eternal, then we have not always existed, and we must have had a beginning point.…
The Church and Its Widows—1 Timothy 5:3–16
First Timothy 5:3–16 has long been problematical. Perhaps the biggest problem revolves around what seems to be an arbitrary age limit governing widows who can be “enrolled” (v. 9), and, as generally concluded, whom the church can therefore support.
The Church and the COVID-19/Coronavirus Pandemic
As some have probably learned from visiting various church Websites, our brethren are responding in different ways to the current COVID–19 (Coronavirus) Pandemic. Some have canceled Wednesday night meetings while continuing all Sunday meetings….
Secularism is from a Latin term, meaning “relating to an age or period.” When used in a religious context, the secularist stands not only apart from, but also opposed to religion.
It is a sad experience to be in a crowd and not feel welcome. Those of us who visit congregations in other places have sometimes found ourselves wondering if they would rather not have visitors; but these experiences are surely the exception.…
The Church—No. 1 (Its Beginning)
The church of the Bible had its origin long before it was established. Its origin was in the eternal purpose of God (Eph. 3:10–11). From the earliest moment in God’s plan to send His Son to redeem man from sin, the church was included.
The Church—No. 2 (How People Become Members)
Jesus built His church on the first Pentecost after His resurrection. How did people become members of it? This is an all-important question for those truly interested in being in His church today.
The Church—No. 3—How It Worships
If we please God, rather than ourselves, we will honor the teaching of the New Testament concerning worship of God.
The Church—No. 4 (Its Organization)
When one looks closely at the New Testament, a pattern of organization for the church emerges. It is clearly stated that Christ is the “head of the church.”
If a church dare claim to follow the New Testament pattern in every respect, it must do the work Christ gave it to do. Perhaps modern religious movements have ignored or forsaken the pattern at this point as much as at any other.
If the church Jesus built (Mat. 16:18) is to exist in any age, there are certain principles to which men must be committed. As surely as men abandon any of these commitments, so surely will the New Testament church cease to exist.…
Jesus promised, “Upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it” (Mat. 16:18). The “rock” to which He referred was the fact, just confessed by Peter, that He is the “Christ, the Son of the living God”….
Jesus promised to build His church (Mat. 16:18). He also promised it would be established in the lifetime of His apostles (16:28; Mark 9:1)….
The church/kingdom Jesus promised to build (Mat. 16:18–19) became a reality in Jerusalem on the first Pentecost day after His resurrection and ascension (Acts 2:22–47). Although we can pinpoint the time of its historical beginning, it was in the mind of the Godhead from eternity (Eph. 3: 10–11)….
The Bible clearly reveals both the nature and work of the church, implying the significance of both. Unarguably, as to its nature, the church/ kingdom of Christ is a spiritual entity, as Jesus stressed in His kingdom parables….
The church of the Bible was/is not just whatever men want it to be. Jesus did not build His church on the basis of a community survey of what His contemporaries desired. He built it as it pleased Him….
The church of the Bible is not time-or earth-bound. Its destiny reaches beyond both. The church/kingdom of Jesus Christ has an eternal destiny….
By all human standards the church Jesus established through His apostles should never have “gotten off the ground.” Everything seemed to be against its success and survival.
The Church Was Not an Afterthought
Many anti-Scriptural concepts of the church exist (e.g., denominationalism, that one can serve Jesus apart from His church [Jesus, yes—the church, no], that the church’s principal work is to supply the physical and/or social needs of mankind, etc.). Another egregious misconception depicts.…
The Church—No. 1 (Its Beginning)
The church of the Bible had its origin long before it was established. Its origin was in the eternal purpose of God (Eph. 3:10–11). From the earliest moment in God’s plan to send His Son to redeem man from sin, the church was included.
The Church—No. 2 (How People Become Members)
Jesus built His church on the first Pentecost after His resurrection. How did people become members of it? This is an all-important question for those truly interested in being in His church today.
The Church—No. 3—How It Worships
If we please God, rather than ourselves, we will honor the teaching of the New Testament concerning worship of God.
The Church—No. 4 (Its Organization)
When one looks closely at the New Testament, a pattern of organization for the church emerges. It is clearly stated that Christ is the “head of the church.”
If a church dare claim to follow the New Testament pattern in every respect, it must do the work Christ gave it to do. Perhaps modern religious movements have ignored or forsaken the pattern at this point as much as at any other.
The Church—No. 6 (Its Authority)
The means of determining whether a church is of human or divine origin and operation is in asking, “What authority is honored?” Man-made churches submit to human authorities. God’s church submits only to divine authority.
Many go through life not realizing that a conflict between good and evil, Truth and error, is raging about them. Some do not perceive the conflict, having become convinced that evil is not so bad, good is not all that good, and error is about as good as Truth.
Saul of Tarsus is a fierce persecutor of Christians when he first appears in the New Testament record (Acts 7:58–8:3). His change from cruel crusader against the church to Jesus’ ardent advocate as the apostle Paul is one of the remarkable narratives of history, with significant implications….
Some think it possible to magnify the death of Christ, symbolized by His cross while ignoring or minimizing His church. To attempt such is to overlook the vital relationship between the cross and the church according to the Scriptures.…
By far, the most enduring symbol of the religion of Jesus Christ is the cross. It so represented Jesus’ life, work, and death that the apostle Paul said it was the only thing of which he would ever boast….The cross marks several matters of great significance:…
Perhaps you’ve heard of the college professor who asked a rude and disinterested student what the meaning of the word “apathy” was. The student replied, “I don’t know, and I don’t care.” Even if unintentional, his definition was right on the mark.…
Profane is used in the New Testament of both men and of things. Esau is called profane because he counted his birthright as of no value (Heb. 12:16). Paul’s accusers in Caesarea said that he intended to profane the temple (Acts 24:6)—to treat that which was holy as common.…
Given the wickedness of the world and the mounting attempts to drive underground those who dare publicly profess faith in the Bible, it is difficult to avoid becoming discouraged. Further, when we observe the chaotic state of the church of the Lord we could easily become depressed. Of all of Satan’s weapons, his favorite may be discouragement.
Cats supposedly have nine lives. Men may die more than once. In fact, man may experience as many as four deaths.…
The Deity of Jesus Christ—No. 1
Was Jesus Christ merely a “good man” or was He more than man? The second century Gnostics and their modern counterparts say He was merely a created being or a man.
The Deity of Jesus Christ—No. 2
“Why is the Deity of Christ important?” one may ask. “Isn’t the Sermon on the Mount just as powerful and beautiful, even if He wasn’t the Son of God?” That may be so but if he is not the Son of God, He was deceived about His own nature because He claimed a unique Sonship.
The Deity of Jesus Christ—No. 3
The Bible not only records the claims Jesus and the apostles made concerning His Deity. It also furnishes abundant evidence to support the claims.
The Doctrine of Divorce—Ancient and Modern
Carl Rowan, syndicated newspaper columnist, wrote an article appearing in the SanAngelo [TX] Standard-Timesedition of February 18, 1970, titled, “Divorce Increase Cause of Troubles.” In his article Rowan discussed the trend toward liberalization of divorce laws and correctly, I believe, connects the disintegration of morality and general disrespect for authority with the instability of modern family and home life.
The “Easter” Season—From God or Man?
The “Easter” season, involves much more than “Easter Sunday.” It begins with…“Mardi Gras” (French for “Fat Tuesday,” also called “Shrove Tuesday”), referring to the day before the beginning of the traditional season of “Lent,” which is called…
The Mayan calendar said it would end in 2012. Mr. Harold Camping boldly predicted it would end May 21, 2011. Every few years some seem compelled to predict the time of the return of Jesus Christ, the end of the world, and the Judgment Day….
Without a doubt, the Energy Crisis is the foremost topic of conversation nowadays. Personally, I’ve felt that the church has had an “energy crisis” on Sunday morning at Bible Class time and even more are afflicted on Sunday night and Wednesday night. Others run short of energy during a Gospel meeting, when a workday is announced, or when they are asked to teach a Bible class.
If this system of theology is true, Jesus failed at His first coming. If He did not fail, this system is false. To even imply that Almighty God was “surprised” by the rejection of His Son is to blasphemously deny His omniscience.…
One of the miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit is the gift of tongues (1 Cor. 12:10, 30; 19:6; 14:2; et al.). What were these tongues in which some of the early saints were empowered to speak?….
Even a simpleton could hardly fail to under-stand that God’s way is one that seeks peace among all men and between mankind and Himself. One of the most compelling attractions of Heaven is the promise of its atmosphere of perfect, everlasting peace….
Religious convictions based solely upon feelings and experiences characterize our times. These traits have always been trademarks of Pentecostalism and Holiness groups, but they now affect all of the sects—and not a few brethren. Most religionists trust their eternal destiny to a mere hunch or feeling….
In the 1980s, “Magic” Johnson obtained great fame and wealth by his basketball exploits with the Los Angeles Lakers. He has been named one of the fifty greatest basketball players of all time. In 1991, he contracted the HIV virus, which forced his immediate and premature retirement when he was at the top of his game….
There is no atmosphere so wonderful and attractive as one of peace, whether in the home, the church, or the nation.
Gracemay be the most beautiful and significant word in the Bible, for none will be saved except by the grace of God (Eph. 2:8). This word refers to God’s bestowal of undeserved favor upon men. While the concept of God’s grace is so very important, it is also one of the most misunderstood and perverted Bible doctrines….
The Graces of Compassion and Kindness
Among the many attractive and ennobling traits of character urged upon servants of God and followers of Christ are the twin virtues of compassion and kindness. These sweet attributes are appreciated and admired even by the uncompassionate and unkind.
When Jesus told His apostles to preach the Gospel to all creation so that all men might have opportunity to be saved, He gave them what is commonly called, “The Great Commission.”
Just as our individual struggles and triumphs over evil will not be accomplished by carnal forces or conflicts, neither will the overwhelming victory of Christ. Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight…”
The entire Gospel message is one great invitation to men to return to God through Christ. However, the classic summary of this Heavenly invitation is in Jesus’ Words of Matthew 11:28–30.…
God has given some great charges to various men through the ages. He commissioned Noah to build the ark and Moses to lead Israel out of Egyptian bondage….
Few verses in the Bible are as well-known as John 3:16: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have eternal life” (ASV). This statement so fully embodies the theme of the Bible that some have called it “the Bible in miniature.”
When we speak of the greatness of the church, we refer to the church which Christ built, which is His kingdom on earth (Mat. 16:18–19) and over which He reigns from Heaven at the right hand of God (Acts 2:34–36). Why is it so very great?
The first man to become intoxicated in the Biblical record was Noah. In his drunkenness, he disrobed and exposed himself to his son, Ham (Gen. 9:21 ff). Ever since that time, a trail of misery and mischief can be traced in the steps of those who have become intoxicant imbibers.
In our affluent economy of the past few generations many luxuries have become common place. With the steadily increasing power of television and its commercial pitch, our children have come to desire, yea demand, more and more things…
Heartin our title refers to feelings, (e.g., joy, sorrow, fear, anger, hate, love, et al.). Head refers to reasoned conclusions based on evidence..Only when the head triumphs over the heart will one seek, find, and obey the Gospel….
The one guiding principle of God’s judgment of us is our faithfulness. Here is a trait required of all because it is attainable by all. The most common meaning of the word “patience” in our New Testament is endurance, continuance, steadfastness.…
House and home are often used interchangeably in everyday conversation. A million dollar house may be called a “beautiful home,” when actually it is full of jealousy, hatred, strife, and unhappiness. It is really only a beautiful house.
A house is where a family lives. A home is how a family lives. A home begins with a man and a woman who become husband and wife. What any home is or is not rests entirely on their shoulders.
When a man and a woman come together and pledge their futures and fortunes to each other in marriage, they assume an awesome responsibility. In the act of getting married, they begin a new home to which they are equally responsible for its happiness and strength.
Every person is the product of some kind of home. Beyond question much of the personal unhappiness and tragedy people experience relates directly to the unhappy and misguided home environment in which they were reared.
The Infallible Manual for Marriage and Family
And he answered and said, have ye not read, that he who made them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife; and the two shall become one flesh?…
Seven centuries before the Christ came, God had a job that needed to be done. He asked, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Isaiah replied, “Here am I; send me”
Soul-winning is the most important work in the world. It alone was the sufficient cause for the Word to become flesh and dwell among men
Bible preaching. “Preach the word” is Paul’s command (2 Tim. 4:2). The Bible must be the content and focus of our preaching, for such alone can be called “sound [healthy, health-giving] doctrine” ….
One of the pillars on which every variety of premillennialism rests involves the “land promise.” God first promised the land of Canaan to Abram and his descendants and then repeated it to Isaac and Jacob….
In Luke 12:15–21, a very wealthy man is described by God as a fool. In the eyes of his fellow citizens, this man was probably very successful. Surely, he was wise in the ways of business and management, but Christ startled His listeners by calling him a fool. Why?
In speaking of “mission” we refer to more than activities in which we might legitimately engage. We refer to the purpose and aim of one’s activities. Upon what principal point is all of our work to be focused? What is the main function of God’s people?…
If you were asked to name the most dangerous sin, would it be murder, lying, adultery, slander, or perhaps some other? All of these are dangerous, both to the victim and the perpetrator. However….
Is 7 the sum of 2+2? Is “up” above us or below us? Does the law of gravity operate only in certain cultures? Is the rape of a seven-year-old child good, neither good nor evil, or evil? Can black be both black and white simultaneously? Is truth, like beauty, only in the eye of the beholder….
A multitude of brethren (and most all of the world) would almost rather be shot than be called “narrow-minded.” However….
The Bible speaks of the hand, the arm, the finger, the eye, the ear, the face, and even the “hinder parts” of God. Are we to take these literally or are these figures of speech the inspired writers employed to help us relate to the Infinite?
While guarding against over-suspicion, we must also guard against its opposite extreme. Many problems that beset the church may be traced to this root. If some brethren are hyper-suspicious, perhaps more are hyper-naive about everybody and everything. Some have chosen the course of a carefully premeditated ignorance….
If the church as God planned it and Christ built it is to exist in any age, there are certain principles to which men must be committed. As surely as any of these principles are abandoned, so surely will the New Testament church cease to exist….
The past few years have seen the burgeoning of a philosophy that threatens to utterly demote mankind to the level of brute beasts. For lack of a better term, I refer to it as the “no-fault” mentality. Simply put, it seeks to absolve everyone of any personal blame or guilt for anything….
The Objective Gospel Versus Subjectivism
There has always been a strong tendency in men to base their religious convictions upon feelings and experiences. Perhaps this trend has never been stronger than at present.
We human beings are cruel at our worst and faulty even at our best. Since this is true,we sometimes offend our fellow man. Even two people who love each other deeply will sometimes offend each other….
Growing older has its disadvantages. Someone has quipped that it’s better than the alternative, even so…Now, I don’t consider myself to be elderly yet, by a long shot. In fact, I’ve never met anyone who did.…
We live in a cause-effect universe: Every effect must have a cause—yea, an adequate or sufficient cause—to explain it. A wristwatch implies a watchmaker. A house implies a designer and builder. The computer on which I am composing these words required great intelligence, skill, and power to conceive, design, and build….
It has become popular to take an “open-ended” approach to the Truth and the church. This has been the denominational approach to Scripture increasingly in direct proportion to the influence of theological liberalism in recent years. “Open-ended” means…
The “heart” of man in the Bible is often used interchangeably with the “mind” of man. The beauty and virtue of the open heart/mind are often extolled in Scripture….
Luke tells us more about the first 30 years of Jesus’ earthly life than the other three who wrote about His life. Even with what Luke tells us we still know very little, however.
Does God have a pattern for the church or did He leave man free to establish any sort of religious society he desires and claim it to be the church of God?
Either consciously or unconsciously, everyone has one or more role models whom he seeks to imitate. Jesus Christ alone has the right to be such because He lived a flawless life….
The Place of Sincerity in Religion—No. 1
What does the Bible say about the place of sincerity in God’s plan?…Unfortunately, many have jumped to the conclusion that since sincerity is so important to God, it is therefore all that is important to God.
The Place of Sincerity in Religion—No. 2
Does the fact that Jesus came to save a world full of religionists, at least some of whom were sincere, teach us that more than sincerity is required?
The Place of Sincerity in Religion—No. 3
God certainly requires us to be sincere in our practice of religion. Insincerity and hypocrisy are intolerable to God (Mat. 6:1–18); 23:4–5; 24:51, etc). However, the popular phrase concerning religion, “It makes no difference what you believe if you are sincere,” is patently false, according to the Bible.
It is possible for one to be too hard on oneself, unnecessarily reproaching and condemning oneself. However, it is also possible to be too easy on oneself. This often takes the form of self-pity….
Christopher Hitchens, renowned British atheist, titled his 2007 book, God Is Not Great (subtitled, How Religion Poisons Everything). Both are solid thwacks at the mazards of believers. He knows how to get our attention.
In 1927, blood was drawn from the veins of Asibi, a 28-year-old African. From subsequent cultures of that blood, scientists developed yellow fever vaccine. The blood of that man provided power and hope, likely preventing millions of deaths. The blood of Another—Jesus Christ—is far more powerful and hope-filled….
Among the “new wave” of stellar militant, belligerent infidels is the British Oxford scholar, Richard Dawkins. His 2006 book, The God Delusion, boldly aims at converting every believer to his atheism. Obviously, either too few have read it, or he didn’t do a very effective job. Many millions (whether odd or not-odd) still believe in God.…
Excellence cannot be achieved by an organization unless its people strive for excellence. After all, the character of an organization is no more or less than the sum total of the characters of its respective members. In other words, a business that would ever strive for excellence must have people who appreciate quality, dependability, courtesy, etc., and who will settle for nothing less in themselves and in others.
“The church is not spiritual.” “That man (perhaps an elder is named) is not spiritual.” “Our worship is not spiritual.” Such statements may be true, but they may also be no more than reckless opinions….
The very appearance of Christ on earth was predicated on the reality of sin in all men, its destructive consequences and man’s helplessness to overcome it without a Savior.
Seven centuries before Jesus was born, Isaiah prophesied that He would be “despised and rejected of men” (Isa. 53: 3). The Gospel accounts undeniably record the fulfillment of this prophecy.
The Religion of Secular Humanism
Most Americans do not even know what “Secular Humanism” is, yet, ironically, most Americans living today (especially those under 40) have been greatly influenced by it. What is it?
The Requirements of Scriptural Baptism
One cannot be taught incorrectly about baptism and be baptized correctly! For baptism to be Scriptural and to do what the Lord designed it to do, all four of these requirements must be met.…
Without intending to be pessimistic, it appears to me that our world has suffered by the large scale “retreat from excellence” in recent years.
When God specifies that which man is to do, he must do it or incur Divine displeasure. Man may not add to, omit, or substitute anything in the place of that which God specifies.
The goodness of God refers to His favors and expressions of love. Such goodness does not overpower or miraculously “lead,” but when duly considered, will influence us to repent.
In 1 Corinthians 1:22 Paul describes the prevailing characteristics of the Jews and Greeks of his day: “Seeing that Jews ask for signs, and Greeks seek after wisdom.”
The song I was taught as a youngster said, concerning “Santa Claus,” “He’s makin’ a list and checkin’ it twice, gonna’ find out who’s naughty or nice.” Somehow, that view of the old fellow has almost disappeared completely….
In worship, organization, work, and other features, the faithful churches of Christ in the first century and in the twenty-first century are identical….
The cross is the single most enduring symbol of Christianity. Paul said he would not glory in anything except the cross of his lord. The cross remains an enduring symbol because of the significant things that occurred in connection with it.
I once read a paragraph in a bulletin exchange describing some of the wonderful blessings of God, to which the writer concluded, “Ain’t God good?” By using such a silly and disgusting expression the writer almost ruined the good things he/she had written about God’s blessings.
I preached in a Gospel meeting a few years ago where I had not been before. I was told in advance by the preacher that the brethren were “laid back” in the way they dressed for worship.
Six days before the last Passover our Lord would keep, he was anointed with costly ointment by Mary in Bethany (John 12:1–8). The context gives the record of how Judas began a murmuring campaign against her for such a waste,…
Article III, Section 1, of the Constitution of the United States, names the Supreme Court as the ultimate judicial power of the United States of America. Some of its rulings have crucially affected the moral foundation and direction of our nation.
The vast majority of Protestants believe the “thousand years” of Revelation 20:1–7 refers to the tenure of Christ’s reign in an earthly kingdom upon His return. Since He will come before His alleged millennial reign, this theological system is called “premillennialism.”…
While the servant of Christ is challenged to devote his entire body to God’s service…, there is no part of his body more consistently emphasized in Scripture than the speaking part (tongue, mouth. lips).
One of the striking things about Jesus’ teachings is the way He gets to the heart of every issue in a few simple words. There is no better illustration than the one covered in this article…
Beer consumption is considered by the average citizen to be an innocent pastime for every “good ole boy” and every “good ole girl” in town. Some parents have heaved signs of relief when their kids were caught guzzling beer instead of drinking whiskey or smoking “pot”….
A new movie was thrown on the theater screens September 23, 1988 from Universal Studios in Hollywood. Unscrupulous, money-hungry, amoral movie producers have produced some awful things in the past, but this one surpassed them all.…
Unique means one of a kind, having no like or equal, incomparable. These terms accurately describe the Bible. Consider some of the characteristics that make it unique:….
The Uniqueness of Jesus’ Birth
The Bible is the only source of information on the birth of Jesus, and it has two notable omissions:
1) When it occurred—it could have easily been specified, but it was not
2) Any religious observance of the occasion in all the first century
In his brief New Testament letter, Jude wrote of “the way of Cain” (v. 11). Genesis 4 tells us that Cain was the first human being to be born, the eldest son of Adam and Eve. He was a farmer by occupation, and he was religious….
In the contest with evil we must remember that, while we oppose men who serve Satan, our real foe is Satan: “For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, …but against the spiritual hosts of wickedness …”
The enjoyment of peace of mind or good mental health is one of the most desirable blessings for any human being. The Christian ought to have more of this enviable element than any other person,…
“The fear of Jehovah is to hate evil: Pride and arrogancy…do I hate” (Pro. 8:13). The Bible deals with few sins more explicitly than with pride. Scripture is piled upon Scripture to show God’s abhorrence of it.
The Wonder of His Birth —A Poem
We know not on what day it was,
The Savior-babe was born;
We only know that this event
With wonder is adorned….
Love, faith, grace, pastor, and baptism are Biblical words that are habitually (and grossly) abused and misused. Another such word is Christian….
Jesus Christ was remarkable for His “mighty works and wonders and signs” (Acts 2:22). Those who heard Him were also “astonished at his teaching” (Mat. 7:28b). He was fully conscious of the significance of His words, as indicated by His repeated reference to “the words I have spoken.” Consider now His words….
The Lord’s church is the spiritual body of Christ (Eph. 1:22–23). It cannot be seriously argued that the work of the spiritual body of Christ should or can be different from the work Jesus came to do (and did) in His physical body. Most would not argue such verbally, but many strongly argue it practically.
A church building may have the name “Church of Íthe question, “Is there anything in a name?” Sometimes it is positively stated, “There’s nothing in a name.”
In a parable, Jesus depicted a king who made a feast for his son. When the servants went out with the invitation, the ones invited “made light of it” (Mat. 22:1–5). The point of the parable is to predict the way most men will respond to God’s invitation to honor His Son and to reveal the dire outcome of their rejection….
For generations, millions of otherwise rational beings, claiming to be disciples of Jesus, have mouthed the slogan: “It makes no difference what you believe, as long as you are sincere in following that belief.”…
No person ever lived that never became discouraged, including such spiritual giants as our Lord and the apostle Paul (Mat. 23:37; Acts 28:15; 1 Cor. 2:3; et al.). When perverse men and women hate you and try to destroy you and the good work you are doing, what keeps you from just giving up? When trials are many and sore, how do the faithful keep on being faithful in spite of them?
In Romans 14:19, Paul exhorts: “So then let us follow after things which make for peace, and things whereby we may edify one another.” Every local church needs these words today, as the church at Rome needed them originally….
In 2015, Pro-life, anti-abortion members of Congress proposed the “Protect Life Act” in an effort “…to prohibit the provision of federal education funding to state or local educational agencies that make health services available to students through school-based health centers unless those centers certify that they will not provide students with abortions…Nancy Pelosi, described such prohibition as “savage” (an amazing irony!).…
To the Corinthians Paul wrote: “If any man thinketh himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him take knowledge of the things which I write unto you, that they are the commandment of the Lord”….
There is more to being faithful to God than “church attendance.” However, does faithfulness require it (to please God, to grow spiritually, to be saved)? I am not asking if merely the preacher and/or elders and other members care, but does God care?….
The first celebration of Easter, according to Williston Walker in A History of the Christian Church, was in A.D. 154 or 155 in the city of Rome. This perhaps comes as a surprise to many who believe that Easter in its entirety is but a continuation of the Jewish Passover. Perhaps it is also a surprise to the great majority of the religious world that has been led to believe that its origin is in the Bible.
Gospel occurs 97 times in the New Testament. The Gospel (and the salvation it provides, Rom. 1:16) is the New Testament’s theme. What does it tell us about the Gospel?
To those enthralled by dispensational premillennialism (perhaps 98% of Protestantism), the Rapture is the next pivotal event on God’s prophetic calendar. Is the Rapture Biblical fact or theological fiction?
Pontius Pilate asked Jesus, “What is truth” (John 18:38)? Many today echo his question. Many have been persuaded to believe there are no absolutes, but that all principles and values are on a sliding scale.
Often a matter that seems overwhelmingly complex can be seen in a truer perspective when its basic elements are revealed. I believe this is true of bearing fruit in the Lord’s vineyard.
The passing of time has a great way of putting things in true perspective. A president may be hated and cursed by his contemporaries, but his administration may be given a saner and truer evaluation in time.
To Eat or Not to Eat in the Church Building
The apostolic church enjoyed common meals in their places of worship, and these meals were formally designated by the term, “love feasts” (or agapais in the Greek language).…
The billboard beside the church building contained six words, setting forth the congregation’s basic creed….Apparently, these words were also intended to convey the means by which men might come to God for salvation through His Son….
In a recent Ann Landers column, she printed a letter in which someone complained about how “social” and “frivolous” worship meetings had become in the Protestant church of which he is a member….
We may generally characterize the tumultuous, topsy-turvy times of the present as the elevation of fiction over facts, the abnormal over the normal, willful amnesia over history, fantasy over reality, subjectivity over objectivity, romanticism over reason—and man over God..
Hebrews 11 is a record of triumph over trials through ages past in the lives of men and women who lived by their faith.…
Pontius Pilate asked our Lord, “What is truth?” (John 18:38). Perhaps we will never know whether Pilate was sincere or sarcastic. However, there is no excuse for anyone who has read the New Testament to have any doubt whatsoever that Jesus recognized the existence of absolute, objective, immutable spiritual Truth.…
Within a few days, I personally received two very different and very interesting evaluations of our efforts in the community in which I was working at the time. Both were from women who were not members of the church. I want to share them with you…
While we like to think of God in terms of His goodness for the most part, we dare not ignore the frequent teaching that there is a severe sided of His nature.
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