Look to Yourselves
by Ron Drumm Have you ever noticed how easy it is to see the faults of someone else? Most of us know how to point the finger at the person who has messed up. Taking responsibility and accepting the blame is not what most of us think about when something goes wrong! In the church,…
Read MoreLiving Together Before Marriage
by Ray Fowler Here are some statistics on living together before marriage from Michael McManus, the president of Marriage Savers. Statistically speaking, living together is not a trial of marriage, but rather a training for divorce. The number of unmarried couples living together soared 12-fold from 430,000 in 1960 to 5.4 million in 2005. More…
Read MoreLest We Forget
by Steven Harper Many a monument has been erected with those words somewhere engraved on its surface in the hopes that those who see it will be reminded of the sacrifices made and the lives lost for the cause [whatever the cause may have been]. It is usually found on some sort of war memorials, but…
Read MoreA Lesson from Noah
by Art Driedger III Many today scoff at the story of Noah’s ark, doubting that there was ever a flood that covered the whole earth. Well, I must admit that it is an amazing story because the flood was catastrophic. Of course, for practical purposes, the only evidence for the flood is found in the…
Read MoreLeaving a Vacancy
by Irvin Himmel via Guardian of Truth XL: 7 p. 4, April 4, 1996 Eddie was a clerk in a hardware store. He made a name for himself as the most inefficient and contentious salesman ever. The atmosphere when he was absent one day was like the tranquil beauty of summer weather after a bad thunderstorm. One…
Read MoreMy wife and I aren’t talking anymore. What do I do?
Question: I think I’ve damaged my marriage so badly that my wife wants a divorce. I’m controlling and I’m hard on the kids. I need to act better to them and be less overbearing, especially to my eldest. But I do love my kids dearly. My wife thinks I’ve cheated on her, yet I never have. I called a…
Read MoreHow could Jesus be in the grave three days and nights if he died on Friday and rose on Sunday?
Question: From Friday around 6 p.m. to Sunday around 6 a.m. is 36 hours that Jesus was in the grave. How does that cover the three days and three nights (72 hours) that Jesus himself predicted? Answer: “For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will…
Read MoreHow can you take up a cross and follow Christ today?
Question: Regarding Matthew 10:38: What is it to take a cross and follow Christ today? Answer: We see the cross today as the jagged, wooden instrument used in putting to death Jesus Christ our Savior. Yet before His followers had even a slight idea that Jesus would die by that manner, Jesus spoke of the cross.…
Read MoreCan you repent from your sins right before you die and still go to heaven?
Question: Can you repent from your sins right before you die and still go to heaven? Answer: Perhaps in theory, but it would be difficult to accomplish since we generally do not know when we will die. “Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend…
Read MoreWho rules the world, God or Satan?
Question: I was just reading from your web site. I do that from time to time. It’s a great site. Thanks for doing it. Anyway, I was reading your sermon on Satan. You wrote: C. Meanwhile, Satan continues to rule this world 1. All sinners are under his dominion – Ephesians 2:1-2; Colossians 1:13 2. He manipulates and controls the…
Read MoreHow do you get over the embarrassment of spanking a teenager?
Question: I’m glad I came across your website and read so many things from other dads of older boys. I’m a single dad of a 13-year-old boy. I’ve been needing to spank him for his improper attitude, but I have been very afraid to. Mostly because I’m uptight about male nudity, but I realize that…
Read MoreIs oral sex before marriage ok?
Question: Is oral sex before marriage ok? Answer: When people want to justify a behavior that deep down inside themselves they know they shouldn’t do, they will redefine terms that cast their actions into a better light. I’ve noticed in recent years that people, young people especially, are making the definition of sex more specific…
Read MoreThe “Law” in Christ
by Robert F. Turner When Martin Luther sought to counter the Roman Catholics’ over-emphasis on “works” for salvation, he adopted such an emphasis on “grace” that his followers practically lost sight of the necessity for obedience. And the pendulum continues to swing! Judging by public prayers and careless statements made in articles and sermons some…
Read MoreThe Kings of the Earth
by Wayne S. Walker “All the kings of the earth shall praise You, O LORD, when they hear the words of Your mouth’ (Psalm 138:4). While we understand that God’s greatest gift to mankind involves salvation through Jesus Christ, we know that His plan for our lives here on this earth also includes civil government…
Read MoreCrossing the Sea
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton The Junior High class had an excellent question the other day: Just where did the Israelites cross over from Egypt to the Sinai Peninsula? If you look at the maps in the back of most of our Bibles you will find multiple routes shown. None of the routes actually cross the…
Read MoreHe Didn’t Write It
by Robert McKay Mormons believe that the Book of Mormon is a product of divine inspiration. They feel that God both caused the book to be written and provided means for its translation. Mormons are adamant in taking the position that Joseph Smith did not write the Book of Mormon. Bruce R. McConkie wrote, “no man (and this…
Read MoreDemoniacs
by Bobby K. Thompson via The Jackson Drive News and Notes, No. 2, Jan. 9, 2005. A demoniac is defined: “a person supposedly possessed by a demon.” The word is frequently used in the New Testament, and applied to persons suffering under the possession of a demon or evil spirit. Much is being said lately…
Read MoreMy wife no longer has a desire for sex. What do I do?
Question: My wife has an illness that has effectively killed her desire for intercourse. I’m certainly not going to force her to do something that does not feel right for her. However, I am at my wit’s end. I still have desires for intercourse and I don’t have any outlets right now for it except…
Read MoreWhy don’t you use the Book of Enoch?
Question: I really love your site. I thought your understanding of Scripture was awesome and that you guys are doing a great job. However, your interpretation of Genesis 6 is completely off, and I pray that because of this the sheep are not lead astray. I say this because if your students, or anyone, understood what…
Read MoreJust Your Average Joe
by Steven Harper Joe was born in a small town in the Midwest and was welcomed into the family by his parents, both of whom were committed, believing disciples who had come out of denominationalism and a long family history of following religious beliefs, not in accord with New Testament Christianity. His parents had the…
Read MoreJesus of Nazareth: The World’s Greatest Character
by N. B. Hardeman The Dallas Lectures for 1943, pages 122-125. Back in 1943, N. B. Hardeman and ten other men preached a series of sermons in Dallas, Texas—brother Hardeman was the featured speaker of the group. There were fifteen sermons with brother Hardeman preaching five of them. The sermons were recorded and printed in…
Read MoreJesus and the Sabbath Law
by Walton Weaver From That They All May Be One: Studies on Unity, Freedom and Authority in the Body of Christ, pp. 90-93 Those who adopt this way of handling the word of God believe that the law of love gives them the “right” to exalt love above God’s law and to act on their own…
Read MoreI Wanted to Change the World
Author Unknown When I was a young man, I wanted to change the world. I found it difficult to change the world, so I tried to change my nation. When I found I couldn’t change the nation, I began to focus on my town. I couldn’t change the town and as an older man, I…
Read MoreI Study My Bible Like I Plow My Field
Author Unknown A farmer explained: “I study my Bible like I plow my field. Oftentimes when I’m plowing or breaking new ground, my plow will get hung under a root, and if I’m going at a pretty good clip it will really jar me. But I don’t get mad and beat my mule and burn…
Read MoreIs There a God?
by Keith Sharp In 1986 a famous visitor made a brief tour of the inner solar system. A luminous body with a long, faint tail hurried on its journey around the sun and returned to the recesses of space. The British astronomer Edmond Halley observed this phenomenon in 1682 and, based on the times of…
Read MoreWhat needs to happen if I want to be saved?
Question: I’m a person that’s interested in Christ. I walk into your church… I hear your message and decide I no longer want to live this life, nor risk not going to heaven. Assuming there’s an altar call or an invitation or whatever you call it; I walk up, then what? Please tell me what happens next,…
Read MoreWas Jesus ever long winded?
Question: I am annoyed by the long-winded answers that are found here. The truth is far more simple than the answers on this website. Do you think Jesus talked in such a way? While there may be truth on this website, it is well hidden, reminding me well of the saying, “a needle in a…
Read MoreIs It Always Wrong to Judge?
by Bob Myhan There are those who seem to think that it is always wrong to judge because Jesus said, “Judge not, that ye be not judged” (Matthew 7:1). We can know with certainty, however, that this was definitely not what Jesus meant. We know this because He also said, “Judge not according to the appearance, but judge…
Read MoreHow do I stop my daughters from stealing?
Question: [Note to readers: I used automated translation software to get the gist of what was written and then rewrote it for clarity. Please regard any errors in the translation as mistakes on my part.] I need some help solving a problem that I have with my daughters. Any advice or suggestions would be welcomed.…
Read MoreSatan (Hamilton)
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Ezekiel 28:12-19 I. For a being who has plagued mankind since the beginning, it is surprising how little people know about Satan A. Some declare he really doesn’t exist. To these people, he is just the personification of evil in mankind. B. Others imagine a character with horns and a pitchfork who…
Read MoreUnderstanding Matthew 24
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton The teachings of Jesus recorded in Matthew 24 are commonly misapplied by people in the denominational world. People want to know what will happen in the future. They don’t enjoy having secrets kept from them. This is true whether we are talking about our jobs lasting another year or about important…
Read MoreIn the Words of the Pope and the Church
by Jefferson David Tant Most people are familiar with the Roman Catholic Church and the man who is its leader, the Pope of Rome. The history of this office can be traced at least back to around 600 AD when Boniface III assumed the title of Bishop or Pope. While some claim that the first…
Read MoreIntelligent Design Explains Nothing?
by William C. Sexton As I glanced at the Opinion Page of my Fort Smith Time Record Thursday morning, August 4th, 2005, I find an article written by the “Script Howard News Service” with the following heading: “Bush is of Two minds, One is Wrong.” As I read on I notice they say: “When it…
Read MoreWhat does the Bible say about the Rapture?
Question: I am 13 years old. I am attempting to write a fictional book about the Rapture. I know nothing about the Rapture other than what the Bible says. I would like some in-depth understanding of this phenomenon in order to write my book better. Could you help me, please? Answer: Writing a book is…
Read MoreIs living together before marriage a sin?
Question: Is living together before marriage a sin? Answer: See: No Longer “Living In Sin” Waiting for the Proper Time Why Sex Outside of Marriage is Wrong If these don’t manage to give a satisfactory answer, let me know what further questions you have and I will try to address them.
Read MoreWhat does it mean to be a child of God?
Question: What does it mean to be a child of God? Answer: “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs–heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together” (Romans 8:16-17). Jesus told…
Read MoreIf There is Only One in the Godhead
by Johnie Edwards via Back To Basics, Vol. 3, No. 2, February 2005. There are consequences of the doctrine that there is only one person in the Godhead. We take a look at some of these: Why the Word “Both?” The word “both” means more than one. John wrote, “Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in…
Read MoreI Can’t Make You Read This
by Steven Harper We are told within the revealed and written Word of God that God had established a plan for man’s salvation through Jesus Christ even before the foundation of the world (I Peter 1:20) or, as Paul said it, “before time began” (II Timothy 1:9). We are also told within the revealed and written Word…
Read MoreI am a Restorer
Author Unknown I am a restorer – unbowed, undaunted, extremist, and eccentric. The centerpiece of my intellectual universe is Biblical primitivism, a search for the first pure truths and ordinances. I am seeking that elusive image of Christianity as it came from the mind of God. You may say it is not there; it is…
Read MoreWho is the Holy Spirit? (Hamilton)
I. Many people have vague notions about the being we know as the Holy Spirit A. Part of this comes from the descriptions of God. 1. Jesus has a name, but Spirit is more generic term. 2. God, the Father, and God, the Son, give us relationships that we are familiar with, but how does the Spirit fit into…
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