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Would You Die for Your Faith?
by Terry Wane Benton I keep hearing of people in other countries dying for their faith in Jesus at the hands of Muslims. It is so sad that this goes on without a government backlash against murderous Muslims. But, what about our faith here? Do we believe in Jesus so strongly and with such loyal…
Read MoreHow Do We Hear the Voice of God?
by Kevin Cauley We all listen to someone’s voice. As humans, this is inescapable. John Donne (1572-1631) wrote, “No man is an island.” We enter this world listening to the voices of our mothers and fathers. As children, we hear the voices of relatives and friends. As we grow older, we listen to teachers, preachers,…
Read MoreI Protest
by Terry Wane Benton I protest sin. It corrupts hearts and destroys love and peace. It breaks our relationship with God and makes people lawless. It blinds people to their own faults and makes them super critical of others. Sin corrupts hearts so that they hate people without knowing them based upon external features that…
Read MoreIf the Kingdom of God Has Come … and It Has
by Zeke Flores If the kingdom of God has come — and the Bible emphatically states that it has — then the theory of premillennialism is heretical King Jesus isn’t coming back to establish His kingdom; He’s already done it. His sacrifice has provided a once-for-all remedy for sin, and the Spirit has provided and…
Read MoreWhy Resist Baptism?
by Marvin Rickett Nearly all denominations resist the Bible’s doctrine of baptism in one manner or another. Some resist it by saying it is not essential to salvation. One can be saved without ever being baptized. Others resist it by teaching that one is saved before one is baptized. He is saved at the point…
Read MoreJesus, the Greatest
by Terry Wane Benton The greatest blessing of my life is Jesus. Without Him, my heart was dark, and my direction was aimless. I pretended that believers were as irrational about God and Jesus as children were about tooth fairies. I once challenged a preacher, and he sent me material that opened my eyes. I…
Read MoreHe Died for My Sins
by Allen Dvorak via Biblical Insights, Vol. 15 No. 2, February 2015 What would you be willing to do for your enemy? To the Romans, Paul wrote that God demonstrated His love for us “in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). We (men in general) were enemies of God because…
Read MoreStillborn
by Jack Gibbert via Sentry Magazine, Vol. 17 No. 1, 31 March 1991 Paul says the purposes of the offices listed in Ephesians 4:11 are so that we would no longer be children (Ephesians 4:14), but would grow up in all things into Him who is the head, Christ (Ephesians 4:15). Many New Testament passages address…
Read MoreJesus, the Perfect Man
Author Unknown From The Commercial Appeal, 22 December 1912 There is no other character in history like that of Jesus. As a preacher, as a doer of things, and as a philosopher, no man ever had the sweep and the vision of Jesus. The human analysis of the human actions of Jesus brings to view a…
Read MoreWhere Do Your Morals Come From?
by Terry Wane Benton What is wrong all over the news in our country is that we shoved even mentioning God out of public life, and that leads to a decline in governing yourself with moral accountability. Take accountability to God out of your picture, and nobody has the right to tell you what to…
Read MoreSifted
by Terry Wane Benton The Lord told Peter that Satan would sift him like wheat. He sifts through our character and principles to find that vulnerable spot that he can use to bring us down. With David, it was lust; with others, it is alcohol or chemical addiction. The weak spot in some is the…
Read MoreTrembling at God’s Word
by Doy Moyer “But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word. … Hear the word of the LORD, you who tremble at His word” (Isaiah 66:2,5). Trembling at God’s word here stands in sharp contrast to what Isaiah says between…
Read MoreThe Blessing of Relationships
by Zeke Flores Paul’s words in I Thessalonians 2:8 remind us that some of the greatest blessings we receive from others are found not so much in the gifts they give but in the people they are. When lives become intertwined through fellowship in Christ, it fosters tighter relationships, deeper love, and more enthusiastic motivation.…
Read MorePreaching the Word to a World That Doesn’t Listen
Author Unknown It seems to me that the theme of June in society is centered around the symbol of the promise that God made to mankind in a word, never to flood the earth again. Obviously, the rainbow is being misused and mistreated among those of various parties, but the account of Noah is one…
Read MoreWho Do You Say Jesus Is?
by Terry Wane Benton There were various opinions about who Jesus was to those considering Him in the first century (Matthew 16:13-19). All opinions and beliefs were not equal. Today, various religious beliefs are not equal to the truth. When some held the opinion that Jesus was a prophet but only a prophet, their opinion…
Read MoreMaking a Positive Difference
by David Gibson Sorely Missed “Then Jeremiah chanted a lament for Josiah . . .” (II Chronicles 35:25 NASB). Josiah “pled the cause of the afflicted and needy” (Jeremiah 22:15). He urged his wayward nation to turn back to God (II Chronicles 34-35). Josiah made a difference. When Stephen was martyred, those who buried him…
Read MoreSurprise!
by Zeke Flores Life is full of surprises. Some are pleasant, but many, maybe even most, are not. Unpleasant, stressful, unexpected, and unwelcome events require adjustments, not only in action but also in attitude. A real, lasting attitude adjustment can only be done by trust and confidence in God, Who may not take away your…
Read MoreA Biblical Call to Reject Occult Practices
by Cleve Stafford In an age of spiritual confusion, many are turning to mysticism in the name of peace, balance, or inner healing. Practices such as burning sage to “cleanse” a room, carrying crystals for energy, reading horoscopes, or consulting psychics are increasingly viewed as harmless rituals or even helpful tools for mental clarity. However,…
Read MoreStanding for Right
by Paul M. Tucker Standing for the right is very demanding of us. It is not easy. It may be very inconvenient. It may even lead to loneliness. On the mountain peak of spiritual experience, it can be a lonely place; we may even find ourselves alone. “At my first answer no man stood with…
Read MoreThink So?
by David Gibson Thinking Reconsidered The bumper sticker caught my eye: “Don’t Believe Everything You Think.” If it’s unwise to believe everything we hear, isn’t it also unwise to believe everything we think? “There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death” (Proverbs 14:12 NASB). Our…
Read MoreTarnish on a Silver Platter
A cynic is someone who, when given a silver platter, sees only tarnish. His perspective is skewed because he’s already made up his mind about how to look at life, and, unfortunately, some of the most cynical people can be Christians. Christians should be the most optimistic people in the world! I’m not talking Pollyanna…
Read MoreSpiritually Minded
by Ronny E. Hinds A Christian’s greatest need, without exception, is to be spiritually minded. This means the primary focus of life is spiritual matters. It means that every thought and action is controlled by what God wants. This way of thinking always asks, “Do these thoughts, does this behavior, please God? How does God…
Read MoreThe Silence of the Scriptures
by Trent Sherwin If we were to take a trip to our favorite drive-through fast-food restaurant and order a #1 with cheese, fries, and a Coke, and then, when we pulled up to the pay window, discovered the total was $43.59, would we have a problem with that? The obvious answer is, “Yes, of course!”…
Read MoreNot Wanting the Truth
by Larry Rouse Good quote I just saw: …”most people don’t want the truth despite what they say. What they want is constant reassurance that what they believe is the truth…. Those who are skilled in the arts of deception will always find an audience willing to be deceived!” “The coming of the lawless one…
Read MoreGod Is One
by Doy Moyer God is one, united in triune nature, and never broken. From the Father eternally proceeds the Son and Spirit, co-equally divine, perfect, and committed in love and faithfulness. Because of who God is, we can trust that He will always act in our best interest, treat us with true justice, and invite…
Read MoreTransition Jacob?
by Dale Smelser Jacob did not begin life with the character he possessed later in life. Jacob is first described as a “quiet man, dwelling in tents” (Genesis 25:27 ASV). The ASV footnote says for quiet, “harmless.” So the Pulpit Commentary adds, “harmless…of mild and gentle manners (activity).” “Dwelling in tents” meant “loving to stay…
Read MoreI Love Having Hope
by Terry Wane Benton Many people only see the present circumstances, dislike them, and despair of life. They wish things were better and different, but don’t expect them to improve. I love having hope and confident expectations, because I know that circumstances change or they change us. With a fellowship with Christ, “we” are in…
Read MoreBeing a Living Sacrifice
by Zeke Flores Being a “living sacrifice” sounds hard. Few people like the word “sacrifice,” it sounds too much like giving something up that you’d rather not. And a 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 sacrifice? Well, that sounds even harder. But the more you become one, the less of a sacrifice it seems. What once felt like loss becomes…
Read MoreLucky You?
by David Gibson “You can thank your lucky stars you didn’t get hurt!” “With luck like mine, there won’t be a parking place, and I’m late already!” Imagine this from Paul: “If my luck changes, I’ll be out of jail by next spring.” Instead, he said, “… for I know that through your prayers and…
Read MoreNo Titles, Please
by Joe Slater One of the minor annoyances of being a preacher is that well-meaning people frequently put some title before your name. It may be Reverend, Pastor, Father, or some other title. They are trying to be respectful, which I appreciate even though I repudiate the titles. I tell them that my mom named…
Read MoreTwo Reasons to Tell Someone You Are Praying for Them
by Clay Gentry How often have you heard “I’ll pray for you,” only for the sentiment to feel as fleeting as a quick hello in a crowded foyer? Or perhaps you’ve offered the phrase yourself, a well-intentioned conversational reflex that sometimes gets lost in the everyday shuffle of life. While “I’ll pray for you” has…
Read MoreShiphrah and Puah
by Jason Hardin Their names were Shiphrah and Puah. They were Hebrew midwives, living in ancient Egypt during an era when a new Pharaoh was determined to slow the numerical growth of the descendants of Abraham. By any means necessary. Indeed, so intense was his determination to curb the Hebrew population explosion that he ruthlessly…
Read MoreBut You Mix Your Fabrics
by Terry Wane Benton Often, those who want to justify their ignoring the Bible on sexual sins will retort with how silly the Bible is and how inconsistent we are since the same book said not to mix your fabrics or not to eat lobster or pork! So, if you can justify ignoring these laws,…
Read MoreUncharted Territory
by Zeke Flores Christianity, for most, is a venture into uncharted territory. It’s easier to shrink back into familiar practices than it is to change mindsets and behaviors. So, far too many people do just that; instead of delving into the unknown, which promises to make them better, they cling to the comfort of the…
Read MoreBring Back Wisdom
by Chadwick Brewer “Wisdom cries aloud in the street, in the markets she raises her voice; at the head of the noisy streets she cries out; at the entrance of the city gates she speaks” (Proverbs 1:20-21). It was once considered that wisdom was honored and valued. There were seats at the gates of every…
Read MoreThe Rapture
by Mark Bass In the last twenty to twenty-five years, we have heard a great deal about the rapture. In the de-nominational world, book after book has been printed dealing with this mysterious subject. Denominational preachers spend a lot of their pulpit time addressing this topic. Granted, such topics make for interesting sermons and books, but…
Read MoreFive Dangers when Preaching on Homosexuality
by Perry Hall One danger is to ignore this sin. If we preach on Christ’s birth in December and Christ’s resurrection in the Spring “because it is on people’s minds”, then we should be willing to preach against homosexuality during “Pride Month” since it is on people’s minds. Another danger is to use a partial…
Read MoreThe Process of Sin
by Dennis Strickland We all have faced “iniquity” in our lives because the Bible clearly states it in Romans 3:23. The Spirit had Paul remind them: “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” Iniquity and sin are one and the same, but many are confused as to how these occur.…
Read MoreLove Is Love?
This is gay pride month to some people. But one should not celebrate sin. The word of God is very clear about this (Romans 1:24ff; I Corinthians 6:8-10). The message of God is that He loves you and wants you, but He gives you reasons to repent (change), and repentance leads to salvation (II Corinthians…
Read MorePaul and Jesus
by Zeke Flores In many ways, Galatians is about Paul and Jesus. One of the things I love about the short book of Galatians is how, although Paul writes on deep theological themes concerning the differentiation between the old and new covenants and their respective purposes, he often refers to how these themes relate to…
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