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Coming Up to Our Potential
by Morris Norman via Sentry Magazine, Vol. 18 No. 4, December 1992 Every normal child born has a potential that needs to be tapped and pointed in the right direction. God determined before the foundation of the world to have a people that are holy and without blame. In Christ, we can reach that potential. Jesus…
Read MoreInventors of Dragons
by Jefferson David Tant via Sentry Magazine, Vol. 18 No. 4, December 1992 In the days of yore, when fierce dragons wandered to and fro on the face of the earth, there was often great fear in the land, as the dragons were wont to capture fair maidens and make them a delicious dessert. But these…
Read MoreLet the Church be the Church
by George DeHoff via Sentry Magazine, Vol. 18 No. 4, December 1992 The business of the church is to preach the gospel of Christ. It exists for this purpose. Without the gospel, men are lost. The gospel is God’s power unto salvation (Romans 1:16). There is nothing else that the church does that some other organization…
Read MoreStraight Ahead Lies Yesterday
by R. L. Craig via The Expository Review, January 1982 The title above is a book written several years ago by Harry Rimmer. As I remember (I first saw the book in 1945), Rimmer’s theme was that almost everything repeats itself. Indeed, this has been the truth concerning nations. Look at Israel. God appointed a judge…
Read MoreDivision in a Local Church
by Robert L. McDonald via Expository Review, November 1984 “And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.…
Read MoreTestimony
by Hugh DeLong As you begin reading I John, note (and memorize) these opening verses. They tell us why John was writing and what he was writing about. He had lived with Jesus for 3+ years. He had left his career as a fisherman to become a fisher of men. He has left his home…
Read MoreNine Types of Atheism
by Perry Hall Emotional Atheism: Many have experienced personal harm in their lives. They are dealing with the “problem of evil”, not from a philosophical perspective, but from daily pain. For example, the loss of a child, parent, or spouse. Hypocritical Religious Atheism: This paradox in terminology comes from their experience of judgmentalism within churches.…
Read MoreNothing Impossible
by Clifton Angel Jesus comes down from Mount Hermon (see Matthew 17:14-21; Mark 9:14-29; Luke 9:37-42). Peter, James, and John are with him. They witnessed the transfigured Christ talking with Moses and Elijah about his coming death (Matthew 17:1-13). It was so magnificent that Peter wanted to worship all three of them, but God the…
Read MoreSave Me, That I May Observe Your Testimonies
by Edwin Crozier Sometimes you just need to talk about Scripture with other people. This past week, I was involved in a Bible study with several men in the area discussing Psalms 119:145-149. I was absolutely stunned by what I learned. The psalmist wanted to do right. According to Psalms 119:145-146, this psalmist wished to…
Read MoreDon’t Hide Behind Your Prayers
by Clay Gentry We’re called to be people of prayer. Jesus Himself taught that we “ought always to pray and not lose heart” (Luke 18:1). However, if we are honest, sometimes our prayers are merely a pious way of being inactive. It is easy to hide behind the sincerity of prayer, shielding ourselves from action.…
Read MoreDo You Know Jesus?
by Zeke Flores Do you know Jesus? Or do you know about Jesus? Those are two very different things. Lots of people know about Jesus the same way they might know someone by reading their biography. It may include many of their interesting personal characteristics or incidents from their lives. But it’s not the same…
Read MoreBecoming Your Enemy
by Micky Galloway Paul wrote the Galatian letter to those who had been influenced by Judaizing teachers who had bound, as necessary to salvation, certain aspects of the Law of Moses. Paul indicted some of them, “Ye are severed from Christ, ye would be justified by the Law; ye are fallen away from grace” (Galatians…
Read MoreLoose Cannons
by Kevin Cauley Reading the news today, I came across an article about one of the presidential candidates, in which one of his former military commanders said he was a “loose cannon.” Just the other day, one of our members was telling me about a man who claimed to be a “loose cannon” religiously; we…
Read MoreAre Christians Obligated to Debate Everyone Who Disagrees with Their Teaching?
by Becky René Whenever a Christian shares biblical material—whether by posting an article, forwarding a devotional, writing something of their own, or commenting on a passage—there will always be someone who disagrees. This is not unusual. It is simply part of living in a world where people differ in background, maturity, understanding, and interpretation. The…
Read MoreUntil Death Do Us Part
by R. L. Craig via Expository Review, January 1983 “Do you take this young woman, whose right hand you now hold, to be your lawfully wedded wife; her, to cherish her, in sickness or in health, in prosperity or adversity, for better or for worse; do you promise to be true to her, forsaking all others…
Read MoreLawful but Not Expedient
by Leon Odom via Expository Review, March 1983 In I Corinthians 6:12-13, the apostle penned these words: “All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any. Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but…
Read MoreAdvice to Younger Preachers (McDonald)
by Robert L. McDonald via Expository Review, April 1983 When I first began preaching, in the late 40s or early 50s, I looked to older preachers for any help they could give me. I was delighted to hear them reminisce about their many experiences and problems encountered. Over the years, I have looked back on…
Read MoreJesus Understands
by Bill Boyd The Church of All Nations stands on the west slope of the Mount of Olives. It is said to be built over the very stone where Jesus fell on his face and prayed. Just outside of the church, in the courtyard, is a grove of ancient olive trees. The place is usually…
Read MoreMisapplying the Exaltation of Israel
by Terry Wane Benton The “blessing” of Israel (Genesis12:3) as God’s favored nation was conditional on the nation of Israel obeying God (Deuteronomy 27:11- 28:2). He clearly told them that if they did not obey God, they would be cursed and destroyed, and no longer be “My people” (Hosea 1:9). But God held out a…
Read MoreThe Charismatic Movement in the First Century
by Floyd Chappelear via Sentry Magazine, Vol 18 No. 4, December 1992 One must be impressed with the miraculous operation of the Holy Spirit in the first-century church.. The apostles, for instance, were told they did not need to plan ahead with respect to what they were to speak, for the Holy Ghost would guide their…
Read MoreWhy I Am Thankful to Be a Bi-vocational Preacher — And Why You Might Consider It
by John W. Boyd I love gospel preachers. I admire men who devote their full vocational lives to ministry, and I am grateful for the sacrifices they make for the kingdom. This article is not an argument against full-time preachers in any way. Instead, it is simply a reflection on why I am personally thankful…
Read MoreTwo Men Plan Their Schedules
by Bill Hall via Biblical Insights, Vol. 15 No. 2, February 2015 Two men plan their schedules for the coming year. The first man plans his schedule around his service to the Lord. The second man gives little thought to his service to the Lord and will try to fit his service to the Lord into…
Read MoreOut of Egypt I Have Called My Son
by Terry Wane Benton There are different kinds of prophecies. Some are direct and some are indirect. Some are in the form of typology, and therefore, when Jesus fulfills them, it is not always obvious how it is a shadow, and then Jesus fills in the form. I want to observe some things about how…
Read MoreWhat If Atheists Are Right About the Beginning of the Universe?
by Perry Hall As to the beginning of our universe, I am aware of at least two atheistic positions. This becomes for atheists an either-or proposition: Either you believe that matter came from non-matter – that is, something came from nothing. Or, that matter has no beginning and is eternal, but not living matter -…
Read MoreIn a Manner Worthy
by David Gibson This is not about the Lord’s Supper, but instead draws on six passages on how we are to live. “. . . like a father with his children, we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his…
Read MoreIf God Answers Prayers
by David Gibson A newspaper years ago published a photo of a man protesting the National Day of Prayer observance at the county courthouse. He is holding a sign that says, “If God answers prayers, why won’t He heal amputees?” Here are a few thoughts: If God does not heal amputees, is it because He…
Read MoreWho Chose Whom?
by Terry Wane Benton The Calvinist asks, “Who chose whom? Did you choose God? Or did God choose you?” He says delightfully, “God chose us!” While that is true, it is not true that God chose us against our will. There is room for God’s choice to be conditional according to many scriptures (Romans 1:16;…
Read MoreThe Crucified King
by Terry Wane Benton The King let Himself be crucified, but that did not lessen His rule or disqualify Him from being King (Psalm 2). Instead, His crucifixion became the very means of winning the hearts of those who would enter His kingdom. He is the King who rules hearts by winning them first. “Greater…
Read MoreJesus, the Friend of Sinners
by David Gibson Text: Luke 19:1-10 Jesus makes a friend Astounding! The Creator of the universe walking around in a human body on dusty roads here on Planet Earth and into the home of a man nobody liked. Jesus paid a price to make this friend. This is the third time in the Gospel of…
Read MoreI Never Met an Elder Before
by Edward O. Bragwell, Sr. Belinda, a fine young Christian from Mexico, spent six weeks of last summer with my daughter’s family. Her enthusiasm, devoutness, and general spirituality were an inspiration to us all. What a delight to see one so young and so interested in so many things, yet seeming to have her priorities…
Read MoreGlobal Warming
by Zeke Flores Global warming, I mean “climate change,” is on the minds of many. That the earth will warm a degree or two will bring catastrophic consequences, they say. Perhaps. Perhaps not. While concerned people fret about a fractional warming of our environment, it escapes them that a calamitous upward temperature change is on…
Read MoreCaricatures of Christianity
by David Gibson What some think The Christian life has been portrayed as a dreary affair. While worldly folks are having all the fun, Christians have to get up on Sunday mornings and go to church and be good all week. They can’t do this, and they can’t do that. Boring! “For the time that…
Read MoreThe Tragic End of Judas
by Hugh DeLong In John 18:3, we read about Judas carrying out his betrayal of Jesus. The story of Judas includes other specific references in Scripture, including: “For the Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have…
Read MoreLight Illuminates
by Zeke Flores The very nature of light is to illuminate, that is, to reveal something. We use it to help us do things such as writing a letter or working in the garden. Whenever I work under the hood of my car, I use a light suspended from a cord above me to illuminate…
Read MoreEarning Salvation?
by Doy Moyer Many believe that the reason we can’t “do anything” is that doing something implies we think we are earning salvation. This is one of the arguments against baptism: baptism is a work, and we aren’t saved by works but by grace; therefore, baptism can’t be required for salvation. This is a misunderstanding…
Read MoreIs There a Minimum?
by Ron Boatwright Many people want to know what the bare minimum is they can get by with in their lives. Additionally, some Christians aim to maintain a minimal level of spiritual engagement. But does God allow a bare minimum? Jesus says, “And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with…
Read MoreDo You Believe in Baptizing in the Trinity?
by Terry Wane Benton Just before Jesus went back to heaven, He told His disciples to go “make disciples of all nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19). What that means is that we baptize people with the full authority of the…
Read MoreIs Election Sure?
by Terry Wane Benton I have heard Calvinists make a distinction between “salvation” and “election.” They say we can lose our salvation but not our election. One is sure and the other is not, according to their perspective. This would mean that all who are temporarily saved from sin are not necessarily elected by God…
Read MoreOutcasts for Jesus
by Hugh DeLong As Jesus talks to the Apostles, knowing that he is going to ascend back to the throne with the Father, he prepares them for what they will face as they conform themselves to the teaching and example that he himself has set. Notice the first 4 verses of John 16: “These things…
Read MoreConditional Statements
by Hugh DeLong In John 15, Jesus speaks with the Apostles, and in what he says, we see many ‘if’ statements and conditional sentences. Note the list: “If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and…
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