Can a woman lead a prayer in a virtual meeting where men are present?
Question: Good day, minister. I really enjoy going through the questions and answers on your website. May God continue to increase you in every way. Amen! I’ve gone through some materials regarding women praying in gatherings and even at home, especially when men are present. I’m sorry if I’m being a bit slow, but is…
Read MoreFear Your Mother
by Doy Moyer What the world generally knows as Mother’s Day is a tradition that has come down to us through many twists and turns through the centuries. We won’t go into that here. As we know it now, this day is a tradition that honors our mothers for all that they have done for…
Read MoreThe Same Mind
by Terry Wane Benton There is a command in I Corinthians 1:10 that deserves our attention. How do you get a group of people who are divided in their affections and interests and preferences to be of the “same mind and the same judgment”? And, by extension, how would we make sure that, as individual…
Read MoreIf God wants everyone saved, why does He harden some?
Question: Hi, Scripture says God wills all to be saved (I Timothy 2:4), yet Paul says that God hardens whom He wills, and that we are not to talk back to God or question why He hardens vessels of wrath such as Pharaoh (Romans 9:16-19) How can the two be reconciled, or is this an…
Read MoreThe Truth of Feelings and Faith
by Josh Creel What role should feelings play in faith? In a culture that loves to say “follow your heart,” there is a very real danger of letting our feelings become our source of truth. But are feelings always bad? In this video, we discuss: The danger of letting feelings define truth How to handle…
Read MorePaul’s Letter to Colosse
by Edwin Crozier Paul introduced his letter to the Colossians with a prayer for the disciples and a praise of their King. Then in Colossians 1:21-23, he outlines the plan for the rest of his letter, describing the relationship between the disciples and their king. However, he does so in reverse order, setting up an…
Read MoreAre people wrong to reject baptism?
Question: Dear Brother, I have a question regarding the plan of salvation. I ask this with the intent of seeking clarity rather than passing judgment on others. My question concerns the forgiveness of sins. Scripture clearly states that water baptism by immersion, rooted in faith and by grace, effects the forgiveness of sins and the…
Read MoreHow Can We Help Someone in a Time of Loss?
by David Gibson A woman has a miscarriage. A middle-aged man is laid off at work. A family’s house burns. Parents lose a teenage son to suicide. A child is diagnosed with cancer. A surviving spouse must now go on without the other. Responding to loss A common response to the suffering of people we…
Read MoreGod’s Son, the King
by Edwin Crozier I hope you are into memorizing Scripture. If not, I encourage you to get started. And a great place to start is Colossians 1:15-20. This passage answers the question, “Who is Jesus?” The description of Jesus falls naturally into two sections. Both sections explain Jesus as the firstborn (πρωτότοκος/prōtotokos). Psalm 89:26-27 describes…
Read MoreCan you remarry if your spouse abandons you?
Question: Good Day, Is it true that someone can remarry if it is for abandonment of the marriage? Some pastors are saying you can remarry. Answer: The general rule is, “But to the married I give instructions, not I, but the Lord, that the wife should not leave her husband (but if she does leave,…
Read MoreWill heaven be here on Earth?
Question: Hello, I am very thankful for the many good articles I read on your website. I’ve recently been hearing some in the church teaching the idea that heaven will be on earth in the future. I know from many scriptures that this is not the case. I think one of the main verses used…
Read MoreTimothy Was Circumcised
by Hugh DeLong When you move from Acts of the Apostles 15 into chapter 16, the question naturally arises: has Paul just contradicted himself? In Acts 15, circumcision as a requirement tied to the law is clearly rejected. Yet in Acts 16:3, Paul the Apostle circumcises Timothy. The answer lies in a distinction that must…
Read MoreGrace and Truth
by Bill Boyd After his presidency, Jimmy Carter returned to his home in Plains, Georgia, and taught a Sunday School class at the Maranatha Baptist Church. His book, “Sources of Strength,” is a compilation of his Sunday School lessons. He did not condescend to the Bible’s contents as one might expect from a high worldly…
Read MoreFour Biblical Purposes of Marriage
by David Gibson “He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the LORD” (Proverbs 18:22 NASB). Why marry? The Bible offers two options: 1) being married or 2) remaining single. Each has its own advantages (I Corinthians 7). Whether to marry is an individual decision. Peter, for example, was married;…
Read MoreQuiet Obedience
by Zeke Flores “Now Bazalel made the ark of acacia wood” (Exodus 37:1). This verse seems simple, but it marks the beginning of something sacred. Bezalel isn’t just building furniture; he’s building the place where God’s presence will rest. And he starts with obedience. Quiet, steady obedience. Sometimes the most meaningful things in your life…
Read MoreAtheists Ask About Murder
by Perry Hall Atheists pose this supposed conundrum: “Did God condemn murder because it is wrong?” Or “Is murder wrong because God condemns it?” This is the horns of the dilemma atheists are hoping Christians will be gored upon by selecting either choice. A philosophy of mine is, when offered two inadequate choices, don’t let…
Read MoreThe False Teaching “Jehovah Witnesses”
by Samuel A. Matthews “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves” (Matthew 7:15 KJV). Loved ones, the church which Christ established is the kingdom of God on the earth today. When Christ promised to build His church, He called it “the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew…
Read MoreSuch Were Some of You
by Heath Rogers “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you…
Read MoreI Will Follow Thee
by Kenneth Frazier via Sentry Magazine, Vol. 21 No. 1, March 1995 “And it came to pass, that as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest” (Luke 9:57). This passage in Luke provides a helpful insight into human nature. Three persons are mentioned by…
Read MoreThe Alternative to Autonomy
by Steve Dewhirst via Sentry Magazine, Vol. 21 No. 1, March 1995 Considering our brotherhood’s abundance of controversies, teamed with an all-too-common sectarian mindset, it’s not surprising that some are beginning to show their true colors. Historically, brethren have revered the sacred axiom of church autonomy in principle, if not in actual practice. We have taught…
Read MoreVictims of Our Own Success
by Floyd Chappelear via Sentry Magazine, Vol. 21, No. 1, March 1995 Nothing is quite so easy to learn as error. One can easily pick up bad habits in nearly any athletic endeavor, but one will find it very difficult to get rid of them. Mistakes are easily learned, but correct procedures are not. If you…
Read MorePeter Was Led Astray
by Hugh DeLong Error can affect any of us. Peter was used to convert Cornelius and his household. Then he defended that action: “Therefore if God gave to them the same gift as He gave to us also after believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God’s way?”…
Read MoreHow Can We End Confusion About the Book of Revelation?
by Bob Prichard There is probably no book of the Bible that is more often misunderstood, misapplied, or abused than the book of Revelation. It has been the “jumping-off” point for cults and wild religious speculation for centuries. Simply understanding the book’s purpose and nature would end the confusion. It begins, “The Revelation of Jesus…
Read MoreBless the Lord, O My Soul
Bless the Lord, O My Soul – Part 1Bless the Lord, O My Soul – Part 2 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Psalms 103 I. Hardly a week goes by that I don’t get someone asking me: A. Do you think I can be forgiven of my sin? B. How can I know I’ve been forgiven? C. I…
Read MoreHow can someone like me make it to Heaven?
Question: I wonder how someone like me could make it to heaven. I see real Christians, and I’m not really anything like them. I always fall. I repeat the same sins over and over and over. My thoughts are not pure; I’m easily enticed. My faith is knowing that every word of God is true,…
Read MoreHow Many Containers in the Lord’s Supper Cup?
by Terry Wane Benton Some divisions have plagued churches over the meaning and use of the word “cup” when Jesus spoke of taking “this cup” as He instituted the Lord’s Supper from the old Passover meal. Was Jesus telling His disciples to use only one container among them, and that even when they suddenly grew…
Read MoreSome Believed
by Hugh DeLong “In Iconium they entered the synagogue of the Jews together, and spoke in such a manner that a large number of people believed, both of Jews and of Greeks. But the Jews who disbelieved stirred up the minds of the Gentiles and embittered them against the brethren. Therefore they spent a long…
Read MoreCan You Be Saved Without Baptism?
by Terry Wane Benton Can a person be saved although they have not been baptized? Was this the case of the thief on the cross? Jesus commanded baptism in His name after He was raised from the dead (Mark 16:15-16). The thief was like David, pardoned under the terms of the Old Testament (Hebrews 9:15-17).…
Read MoreWhy Anyone Still Follows a 2,000-Year-Old Book
by Steve Wolfgang via InLight Media To be fair, the Bible is a very old book. You might wonder how relevant it could even be to our modern questions and problems. But there’s a reason the Bible is still the best-selling book of all time, and it’s the same reason people keep coming back to…
Read MoreWhat Kind of Drugstore Is This?
by Edward O. Bragwell, Jr. I saw a cartoon posted in a brother’s drug store with the caption saying in effect: “What do you mean you don’t have nuts and bolts? What kind of drug store is this?” Our society expects more from a drug store than just drugs. The sign may say “Drug Store,”…
Read MoreConsuming Fire
by Chadwick Brewer “Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire” (Hebrews 12:28-29). The Hebrew writer has spent considerable time telling us that Jesus is a great High Priest. In…
Read MoreGod’s Description of Himself
by Zeke Flores “Then Yahweh passed by in front of him and proclaimed, ‘Yahweh, Yahweh God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth'” (Exodus 34:6). This is God describing Himself. Not Moses describing God, nor Israel describing God. God Himself says, “This is who I am.” Compassionate. Gracious. Slow to…
Read MoreVisitor or Member?
by Terry Wane Benton Many congregations are made up of workers who pitch in to help the local church grow in edification and meaningful fellowship in the work and worship of God. They try to be involved in teaching classes, preparing communion, cleaning the building, hosting meals for other members, and fostering togetherness. They try…
Read MoreHard Thinking
by J. Watson My Dad was a preacher. He was a good man, a kind man, a strong man, a people person, a completely God-focused man. Lately, I’ve been going through times when I wish I had his strength and wisdom to rely on. As I’ve been thinking a lot about him lately, I have…
Read MoreThree Principles for Living Well
by Terry Wane Benton “He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8 NKJV). Do justly Be fair with others. Start at home with your wife, husband, and children. Make this…
Read MoreExtrabiblical Mentions of Biblical Characters
by Stuart Steinberg Here is a list of inscriptions discovered that mention various figures in the Hebrew Bible. There are several dozen inscriptions—mostly seals, ostraca, plaques, and royal stelae—that mention individuals named in the Hebrew Bible. Below is a concise list of the key inscriptions and the biblical figures they mention, with approximate dates. Key…
Read MorePrayers and Thoughts
by Edwin Crozier As Paul continued to instruct the Philippians in the wake of calling out Euodia and Syntyche, he addressed two important aspects of maintaining harmony. First, recognize that a great deal of disharmony comes from anxiety. Let’s face it. Viewing others as more significant and prioritizing their interests over our own can make…
Read MoreWhy did Paul wait a week to teach the Gentiles?
Question: Regarding Acts 13:42, why would Paul have the Gentiles wait a week to hear the word of God? Why would he not simply tell them that the church is meeting tomorrow (the first day of the week) as we are commanded? Thank you Answer: “But going on from Perga, they arrived at Pisidian Antioch,…
Read MoreRighteousness
by Terry Wane Benton In Jesus’ great sermon on the mount (Matthew 5-7), Jesus spoke of the necessary principles of those who would be part of His kingdom. He said that if our standard of “righteousness” did not exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, we could by “no means enter the kingdom of…
Read MoreEuodia and Syntyche
by Edwin Crozier In one little paragraph, we find the rubber hitting the road for Paul’s letter to the Philippians: “I entreat Euodia and Syntyche to agree in the Lord. Yes, I ask you also, true companion, help these women, who have labored side by side with me in the gospel together with Clement and…
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