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Boundary or Character
by Ray Warfel, Jr. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law” (Galatians 5:22-23). Have you seen the warning labels on some products and thought, “Who needs to be told that?” I don’t have any, so I can’t check, but…
Read MoreGive Generously
by Zeke Flores “Give generously to him and do not let your heart be grieved when you give to him” (Deuteronomy 15:10). Deuteronomy 15 deals with generosity and release. In Deuteronomy 15:10, the instruction isn’t just about giving; it’s about attitude. Israel was called to create a community where people weren’t crushed by poverty or…
Read MorePaul as a Model Preacher
by Hugh DeLong Of course, there are some exclusive aspects of his preaching – he was an inspired apostle and had the confirmation of his message by the Holy Spirit (cp. Hebrews 2:1-4, etc.). Yet, in preaching to people with no background in Jewish history, how did Paul present this message of salvation? What I’m…
Read MoreCan We Understand the Bible Alike? (Matthews)
by Samuel A. Matthews “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding” (Proverbs 4:7 KJV). Loved ones, various denominational preachers have affirmed on numerous occasions that it is impossible for men to understand the Bible alike. They asserted that those who believe that we can are simply entertaining…
Read MoreToo Academic?
by Chadwick Brewer Why are some Christians so academic in their approach to Scripture? When you make your study academic, don’t you miss the big picture of loving God and rejoicing in the Spirit? Don’t academic pursuits rob us of the heart of a true worshiper? Careful study is not fundamentally opposed to heartfelt worship,…
Read MoreLike Them
How slow they were to get it! So often they missed the point of their Master’s teaching, and at times they displayed attitudes unworthy of a disciple. Yet Jesus “loved them to the end” (John 13:1). What did He see in these disciples? They were willing to leave all to follow Him (Matthew 19:27). Not…
Read MoreYour Identity
by Zeke Flores “You are a holy people to Yahweh your God” (Deuteronomy 14:2). Deuteronomy 14 begins with identity. Everything that follows, including dietary laws and tithing practices, flows from that identity. Israel wasn’t supposed to mimic the nations around them; their distinctiveness was intentional. The point isn’t about food; it’s about being set apart.…
Read MoreOllie Harrell Jones
Author Unknown via Sentry Magazine, Vol. 22 No. 1, March 1996 Mommy, Mother, Grandma, Aunt Ollie Eighty-nine years ago, September 10, 1906, a great woman was born in a humble Christian home near Mammoth Spring, Arkansas, to Moses Leroy Harrell and Martha Ida Gray. Ollie was the youngest of eight children—five girls and three boys —all…
Read MoreSafe Sex: A Message of Madness
by Floyd Chappelear via Sentry Magazine, Vol. 22 No. 1, March 1996 Humanistic social planners are promoting the concept of “Safe Sex” (i.e., condom use) for America. Such is a course of madness for a number of reasons. Consider: Condoms have a remarkably high failure rate in preventing life (pregnancy); only the most uninformed think they…
Read MoreThe Corinthian Church
by Hugh DeLong The Corinthians heard, believed, and were baptized into Christ. Thus, by the Spirit they were baptized into one body. They were washed, sanctified, and justified (cf. I Corinthians 6:9-11). Paul could write to them as the ‘saints in Corinth’. Yet, they had problems. They began as we all do, as ‘babes in…
Read MoreWas the man casting out demons doing so by Christ’s authority?
Question: Hi, In Luke 9:49–50, did the man who was casting out demons actually have the power to do so? The apostles couldn’t cast out a demon in Luke 9:40, so how was this man able to cast them out? Was he doing it by Christ’s authority, even though he was not one of the…
Read MoreGrace Alone?
by Terry W. Benton Daily Points of Light from Heaven Grace is the only reason we can be restored to good fellowship with God, for sin on our part means that we have broken the fellowship and cannot remove that sin by meritorious works on our end. Sin must be removed, and we can’t pay…
Read MorePreach the Gospel to All Nations
by Hugh DeLong Really? All? Even those from the country of ……..? Yes. All. This goes back to the very beginning – the mother of all living and the promise that her seed would bruise the head of the serpent, the devil. What followed was a list of all her offspring – some good (Enoch, Noah)…
Read MoreLoyalty to God
by Zeke Flores “You shall follow Yahweh your God and fear Him, and you shall keep His commandments” (Deuteronomy 13:4). Deuteronomy 13 addresses loyalty to God directly. The context is about false voices, even familiar ones, pulling people away from God. The chapter is blunt because the danger is real. Israel wasn’t threatened only by…
Read MoreThose Who Rewrite the Bible
by Luther W. Martin via Sentry Magazine, Vol. 22 No. 1, March 1996 Just as we now encounter citizens who would rewrite the history of the Second World War, so we also have individuals and organizations that are actually attempting to rewrite Holy Scripture! Earlier in 1995, I prepared an article illustrating how the Judean Version…
Read MoreAre You Too Busy to Meditate?
by Ross Statham via Sentry Magazine, Vol. 22 No. 1, March 1996 Americans are known in other countries as busy people, and for the most part it’s true. My co-workers and customers at work all share the same refrain as my brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus: they all tell me how “incredibly busy” they are.…
Read MoreMaking a Difference
by Bill Robinson Two Kinds of Men Who Teach Error Text: Jude 17–23; Galatians 2:4–5 Every congregation that holds the truth will eventually face someone teaching against it. The question isn’t whether. The question is what faithfulness looks like when it happens, and Scripture’s answer is more careful than either of our instincts. One instinct…
Read MoreGentle, Not Quarrelsome
by Edwin Crozier Text: II Timothy 2 I find it a bit humorous. When Paul tells Timothy he is given a spirit of power instead of fear and tells him to fan his gift into flame, many people conclude, “Timothy must have been a timid, cowardly fellow.” However, I’ve yet to hear anyone say, “You…
Read MoreFour Lessons the Cross Teaches Us
by David Gibson The cross demonstrates how much God loves us (John 3:16; 15:13). Could more powerful proof be given? The cross shows us how sinful sin is. The horribly degrading nature of crucifixion shows what a high price tag sin carries. Jesus “bore our sins in His body on the cross … by whose…
Read MoreYou Shall Not Act Like This Toward the Lord Your God
by Zeke Flores “You shall not act like this toward Yahweh your God” (Deuteronomy 12:4). Deuteronomy 12 focuses on worship, but not vaguely. In Deuteronomy 12:4, Moses is referring to the casual, anything-goes worship practices of the surrounding nations. Israel wasn’t supposed to improvise their own version of worship; God set the terms. This chapter…
Read MoreJudas Hanged Himself
by Hugh DeLong As we read the sad end of Judas’s life (Matthew 27:1f), we can outline the final events. Matthew tells us that Judas: Recognized what had happened — Jesus had been condemned (Matthew 27:3). Regretted or reconsidered his action — [metamelētheis is the word used here]. Returned the money — Matthew 27:3. Confessed…
Read MoreThree Steps to Usefulness
by Edwin Crozier We’ve been told Christ’s church is God’s household (I Timothy 3:15). Usually, when we read that metaphor, we think of the people involved in a household. But in II Timothy 2:20-26, Paul thinks about dishes. The fine China versus the Tupperware. In every great house, Paul says, some of the dishes are…
Read MoreYou Know
by Hugh DeLong After telling the Apostles what would happen with the coming destruction of Jerusalem and the temple, and the judgment that would come with His coming again, He said to them: “You know that after two days the Passover is coming, and the Son of Man is to be handed over for crucifixion”…
Read MoreRemember What God Has Done
by Zeke Flores “Know this day that I am not speaking with your sons who have not known and who have not seen the discipline of Yahweh your God” (Deuteronomy 11:2). Deuteronomy 11 keeps pressing the point that obedience is tied to remembering what God has already done. In Deuteronomy 11:2, He’s telling the people…
Read MoreA Worker with No Need to Be Ashamed
by Edwin Crozier Text: II Timothy 2 “I want to be a worker for the Lord!” I’ve sung that since I was a teenager. Perhaps you’ve got a long memory of that song as well. “I want to…be busy every day in the vineyard of the Lord.” Paul talks to Timothy about being a worker.…
Read MoreHelp Along the Way
by David Gibson Could he have ever made it into the city on his own? Temporarily blinded by his vision of the glorified Christ, Saul was led by the hand into the city by those traveling with him (Acts 22:11). Three days later he was told, “Get up and be baptized, and wash away your…
Read MoreAn Unbeliever’s Theory: Jesus Did Not Die
by Paul K. Williams In December 1983, I debated Ahmed Deedat, head of the Islamic Propagation Society, on whether Jesus was raised from the dead. Deedat tried to show from the New Testament that Jesus did not die on the cross. He said Jesus became unconscious, that the thrust of the spear in his side…
Read MoreNot Because of Your Righteousness
by Zeke Flores “It is not because of your righteousness … for you are a stubborn people” (Deuteronomy 9:6). Deuteronomy 9 is a humbling chapter. In Deuteronomy 9:6, Moses tells Israel about their stubbornness. That’s blunt, but necessary. Israel needed to understand that God’s blessings weren’t rewards for good behavior; they were expressions of His…
Read MoreMatthew 24
by Billy Boyd Matthew 24 may be the most difficult chapter in the book. Jesus tells his disciples what will come to pass, and his language is sometimes figurative, exaggerated, and apocalyptic. Many wise and respected commentators have struggled with this chapter and differed over its particulars, so do not be discouraged if you find…
Read MoreDid we cross the line?
Question: Hello Minister, I have a question that I’m hoping you can help me understand through Scripture. I was born outside of marriage, but both of my parents later became Christians, repented, and eventually married. Because of that, I grew up being taught very seriously about sexual immorality, temptation, and how sin affects our relationship…
Read MoreWhat Led to the Triumphal Entry
by Clay Gentry Here’s something else to add to the old “I’ve Never Noticed That Before File”: We all know the account of the Triumphal Entry, but have you ever paid attention to how each Gospel writer frames the crowd’s response to His arrival? They don’t just record what happened; they intentionally set the stage…
Read MoreSoldier, Athlete, Farmer
by Edwin Crozier Keep in mind the last sentence of II Timothy: “Grace be with you.” The “you” is plural. In other words, as with his first letter to Timothy and the letter to Titus, Paul expects the entire congregation to read this letter, not just Timothy. Paul is not merely telling Timothy what work…
Read MoreReligious Teachers
by Hugh DeLong “Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to His disciples, saying: ‘The scribes and the Pharisees have seated themselves in the chair of Moses; therefore all that they tell you, do and observe, but do not do according to their deeds; for they say things and do not do them'” (Matthew 23:1-3).…
Read MoreStanding for the Truth Without Being Obnoxious
by David Gibson Firm but Kind God expects Christians to take a firm stand on morals and doctrine. But how can we do this without unnecessarily closing doors? “The Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if…
Read MoreI Understand, but I Have My Own Ideas
by Jefferson David Tant While talking with a young woman I had several Bible studies with, I asked whether she had read something I had given her. Her reply was, “Yes, and I understand, but I have my own ideas.” Hers is not an uncommon reaction when discussing what the Bible teaches. This kind of…
Read MoreGod Is Our Creator
by Samuel A. Matthews “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth” (Genesis 1:1 KJV). Loved ones, the first verse in the Bible accounts for the existence of the created universe in a way with which no alternative, God-hating, human evolution theory, denominational, or world religion can begin to compare. Time, force, energy,…
Read MoreEvidence for the Faith
by David Gibson What evidence is there for believing: 1) God exists, 2) Jesus is His Son, and 3) the Bible is His word? God Exists “… His invisible attributes … have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse” (Romans 1:20). Jesus Is His Son The…
Read MoreI Feel That I Am Saved
Author Unknown via Seeking Things Above A gospel preacher was talking to a woman who said she knew she was saved. The preacher said, “How do you know you are saved?” She made the following reply, “I was attending a religious service one time and all of a sudden I felt light as a feather—I…
Read MoreEmpty Pages
by Gilbert Alexander via Seeking Things Above When children are born, they are like books full of empty pages. Some have more pages than others, but we don’t know how many pages each one has. What we must understand is that we, as parents and elders, are helping write each page in each book. Each…
Read MoreDid You Ask Him to Worship with You?
by Bobby K. Thompson via The Old Hickory Bulletin, Jackson, TN We might not feel we can accomplish great tasks, but there is something all of us can do. We can invite those with whom we have contact during the week to worship with us on the Lord’s day. This certainly does not require a…
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