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Does God Want Me to Be Unhappy?
by Terry Wane Benton It is quite natural to want to be happy, and often, people think that is the whole reason God put us here. They have imagined that God just wants us to be happy no matter what. Is that true? Let’s consider this for a moment. God created us intending to win…
Read MoreThe Work of the Lord’s Church
by Terry Wane Benton It was not to eradicate poverty. The church had no silver and gold for the beggar in Acts 3, yet it was taking care of its own members in Acts 2. Their mission was to get to the heart of man’s problem, and that is sin. You heard that right. Sin…
Read MoreJesus, the Life
by Terry Wane Benton “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me” (John 14:6). Jesus is the source of life. In Him we live, move, and have our very being (Acts 17:28). “He gives to all life, breath, and all…
Read MoreJesus, the Truth
by Terry Wane Benton “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me” (John 14:6). Jesus is the truth about everything. Do you want to know how this world began and how life, moral conscience, and intelligence began? Jesus is the…
Read MoreKings in Jerusalem
by S. Scott Smelser Saul was handsome, Saul was tall, Sad to say, that was all, from the throne he was rejected, and a shepherd was selected. David took Goliath down. David’s line would keep the crown. King Saul’s daughter was David’s wife, What Saul wanted was David’s life. David lifted not his hand against…
Read MoreAll Past, Present, and Future Sins?
by Terry Wane Benton I don’t know how many times I have heard preachers when talking about getting full forgiveness of sins, say, “That means all past, present, and future sins are forgiven at the cross.” Let us study the scriptures on this matter. The Bible does not say or imply that all past sins,…
Read MoreIs Jesus Equal to or Lesser than the Father?
by William J. Stewart Question: In John 10:30, the apostle pens the words of Jesus, “I and My Father are one.” Again, Jesus’ words are recorded in John 14:28, “Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said,…
Read MoreAttending Bible Classes
by Barney Keith There is one fact that is undeniable about the life of every Christian – he is saying something to those around him by every action of his life. Without any vocal sounds, he speaks volumes by his conduct. In this way, many a godly wife has won her husband to the Lord…
Read MoreWhere Is the Promise of His Coming?
by Terry Wane Benton Peter predicted that scoffers would ask this (II Peter 3). The Lord has promised to come again. That is one thing that has not happened yet. The scoffer wants you to forget all “the prophetic word made more sure” (II Peter 2:19f) by amazing fulfillments, but they think they have found…
Read MoreCall Home
by Perry Hall Most wives work hard, including fixing dinner for their families. If the family members want to be considerate, which scenario is acceptable: The husband is working late and doesn’t call to let his wife know. The son ate out with his friends after ball practice, so when supper is ready and he…
Read MoreTo Whom Are You Thankful?
by Doy Moyer When someone says, “I’m thankful,” to whom is this person thankful? Thankfulness is an expression of gratitude or appreciation, but to make sense, it must be directed to one who has given or made the circumstances possible in which that expression finds meaning. Just saying, “I’m thankful,” into the air is pointless.…
Read MoreThere Is Power in the Blood
by Terry Wane Benton Wonder working power! What does the blood Jesus shed on the cross really do for me? It works wonders on a sin-condemning conscience. It says Jesus was willing to pay my debt on condition of repentance and confession to those already baptized into Christ (Acts 8:21-22; I John 1:7-9). It works…
Read MoreWhat Sort of People?
by Doy Moyer At the end of Peter’s second epistle, he writes that the Lord is returning in judgment (II Peter 3). While many mocked this as they followed their own sinful desires, they overlooked the fact that God always keeps His word and has judged the world before in the flood. Yet God’s timing…
Read MoreBe Not Many Masters
by Robert F. Turner Plain Talk, March 1972 Every now and then, a preacher (usually young or inexperienced) gets the idea that he has discovered something new and wonderful in his nonsectarian, undenominational concept of the church or that salvation is a gift of God through Jesus Christ rather than the product of legalized obedience.…
Read MoreThe End-Times, David Jeremiah, and Pre-Misapplicationalism
by Terry Wane Benton It sounds like a very complicated subject (premillennialism), but it is complicated by a bunch of puzzle pieces put in the wrong places. The pieces selected are strung out in a series of misapplied events in the future. It would be like taking these six events and making them all part…
Read MoreTrue Riches
by Terry Wane Benton In Luke 16:11, Jesus speaks of “true riches” as opposed to the world’s material riches. True riches are the real riches. We’ve known many of those millionaires who were poor and miserable on the inside. They don’t have “true riches.” True riches are things inside that make you content, thankful, happy,…
Read MoreJesus Had Every Excuse and Reason, But …
by Perry Hall If anyone was too busy, it was Jesus (Mark 1:29-34, 38-39, 1:40-42, 45; 2:1-2; etc.). If there was anyone who could worship anywhere, it was Jesus (Mark 1:35; Luke 22:39). If there was anyone better than those hypocrites, it was Jesus (Mark 1:23-26; 2:16; 3:2). If there was anyone who, as a…
Read MoreThe Crutch of Self
by Doy Moyer We sometimes hear unbelievers argue that religion is a crutch (something on which we heavily rely) or that we believe in God and the Bible because it just makes us feel good and thereby gives hope that is, to them, false. We are told that we believe because it’s what we want…
Read MoreYour arguments against Mormonism were just copies from an old binder
Question: Hello, There is an article (You don’t understand. Joseph Smith didn’t contradict himself) on the La Vista church website that dates to 2009. And funnily enough, I had a conversation with a church of Christ pastor back in 2008 about that very subject. He had a binder on Mormonism and just read objections about…
Read MoreDivisive
by Chadwick Brewer “I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery, they deceive the hearts of the…
Read MoreThe SAME as They
by Terry Wane Benton “But we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same way as they also are” (Acts 15:11). The Jews and Gentiles are saved the same way by the same gospel (Romans 1:16-17). There is no difference between the gospel to the Jews and the…
Read MoreNot Put into Practice
by Zeke Flores How many times have we heard a sermon, yawned, and went on our way unchanged? For the Israelites, it’s not like they didn’t hear the words; they just weren’t listening with their hearts. They knew what God expected yet didn’t do anything about it. And they paid a heavy price for it.…
Read MoreThe Master Craftsman
by Chadwick Brewer “And I will put this third into the fire, and refine them as one refines silver, and test them as gold is tested. They will call upon my name, and I will answer them. I will say, ‘They are my people’; and they will say, ‘The LORD is my God’” (Zechariah 13:9).…
Read MoreMan after God’s Own Heart
by Terry Wane Benton God accomplished great things through David while his faith was steady and strong. One feature of the Bible is that it does not make a man look better than he actually is. With all of David’s victories and moments where his faith shined, inspiration demanded we learn about his weakness as…
Read MoreKnowledge Without Wisdom
by Terry Wane Benton In Colossians 1, we find Paul writing to a group that heard “the word of the truth of the gospel” (Colossians 1:5), and it produced faith, hope, and love (Colossians 1:4-5) in them. Paul was thankful, but he went on to pray that they would be “filled with the knowledge of…
Read MoreLove or Hate
by Terry Wane Benton If the Law said to “hate your enemies” (via Matthew 5:43), and Jesus was obligated to uphold the Law, then Jesus was obligated to hate His enemies, and He would have sinned if He did not hate his enemies. No! That will not work! Jesus does not contrast His own new…
Read MoreWrestling with God
by Doy Moyer The narrative of Jacob includes the intriguing account of Jacob wrestling with God (Genesis 32:22-32). Jacob had been out of the land for a few decades and finally returned. The night before meeting Esau again, Jacob was left alone, and the text says, “a man wrestled with him until the breaking of…
Read MoreThe Appeal of Catholicism Among Young Men and Lessons for Churches of Christ: Confronting the Vacuum Left by the Progressive Movement
by Gregory Alan Tidwell In recent years, an unexpected trend has surfaced: young men under thirty (Gen-Z) are increasingly turning to Catholicism. At first glance, this shift appears counterintuitive. With its traditions, hierarchical structure, and strict doctrines, Catholicism seems an unlikely refuge for a generation celebrated for its openness, diversity, and rejection of dogma. Yet,…
Read MoreAre the Souls of the Wicked Annihilated?
by Bill Pierce Some time ago, Mr. Garner Ted Armstrong, in a broadcast, stated that the souls of the wicked dead cease to exist. Besides using Matthew 10:28 as his proof text, he used cartoons to mock the idea of everlasting punishment. This is a favorite doctrine, not only for him but also for other…
Read MoreBaptism, Grace, and Works
by Andy Belknap There are many people today who believe that baptism (immersion) is not essential to being saved. I truly believe this is one of Satan’s grandest lies that he has successfully spread throughout the ages. What greater way is there to snatch souls away from God than to sow deceit and confusion around…
Read MoreHis Dominion Will Be Vast
by Terry Wane Benton Isaiah 9:7 is interesting. Some brethren use it to teach that the kingdom on earth will keep “increasing” and never have an earth-ending moment and a transferal to heaven. But the “increase” is about the “prosperity” experienced rather than the kingdom growing on earth forever. The NET (New English Translation) says,…
Read MoreMorality from Molecules?
by Terry Wane Benton Atheists have a sense of right and wrong; as skewed as it is, it is an issue they cannot explain. Where did this sense of ought, moral right and wrong, come from? Do men get to make it up from within their own molecules? If so, then who gets the final…
Read MoreLegalism
by Terry Wane Benton What is it? Why do people fear it? It seems that the only opposite is “illegalism.” However, a better definition would probably be an attitude of self-deception, which is thinking we stand right with God with no need for mercy and forgiveness. We can stand on the legal side of justice…
Read MorePeace and Truth
by Doy Moyer There are people I genuinely like but with whom I have strong disagreements. Some are on opposite theological and political isles, yet I feel kindly disposed toward them. I cannot explain this. It’s just something that you either get or don’t. I suspect that this is true of most people. We have…
Read MoreRevisiting Bible Authority
by Andy Sochor via Plain Bible Teaching It is good and necessary to revisit certain topics from time to time. We do not want to “drift away” from what we have previously learned (Hebrews 2:1). Some topics are so foundational that they affect what we believe, teach, and practice – individually and collectively. One of…
Read MoreSurvivor’s Manual
by Zeke Flores One of the great things about Christianity—and there are many—is that life comes with an instruction manual, a kind of survival kit, if you will. If you’ve lived long enough to take your first steps (and if you’re reading this, there’s a good chance you have), you know that life throws a…
Read MoreEvangelism, Converts, and Bearing Fruit
by Andy Sochor “Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, that they are white for harvest. Already he who reaps is receiving wages and is gathering fruit for life eternal; so that he who…
Read MorePeter’s “Nevers”
by David Gibson I believe it was in his film series “Making Things Right When Things Go Wrong,” or perhaps in the Brecheen-Faulkner Marriage Enrichment series, Paul Faulkner observed that “Peter was given to ‘never’ statements.” Four examples When Jesus first predicted his death at the hands of the Jewish leaders, “Peter took him aside…
Read MoreWhere Was God?
by Chadwick Brewer The Book of Esther stands out as unique among the Old Testament books because it is the only book that does not mention God at all. Compared to other Old Testament stories, God’s absence in the story of Esther can seem rather profound. To this end, we want to ask, “Where was…
Read MoreSomething Greater
by David Gibson What Jesus claimed for Himself One of the challenges Jesus faced during His ministry on earth was helping people understand who He really was and what He had come to accomplish for their eternal welfare. He was so much greater than they could imagine. Referring to Himself, He said, “. . .…
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