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I Hate Death
by Zeke Flores I hate death. Photo by Sandy Millar on Unsplash Yet, it’s all around us. My office is in a building across the street from a city cemetery, and it’s not unusual to see mourners sitting and weeping at the graves of their loved ones days, weeks, and even months after they’ve passed…
Read MoreFeed My Sheep
by Terry Wane Benton Photo by Tanner Yould on Unsplash If you love Jesus, you must tend His sheep (John 21:15-17). This is what Jesus told Peter. You cannot love Jesus without caring for Jesus’ church, who are His sheep. Jesus is inseparable from His church. You cannot have one without the other. You cannot…
Read MoreNot Quite …
by Steven Haper What we believe may not be quite right, according to God’s word. Not quite… How many people sincerely believe that the forbidden fruit of the tree from which Adam and Eve was an apple? But where in the Scriptures does it say this? [It doesn’t!] The Scriptures say, “And the LORD God…
Read MoreListening Better to God
by Jon W. Quinn The Bible is the most widely read book of human history. It is God’s word and ought to be approached with deep respect. We are urged to handle it carefully and diligently. Understanding comes with effort. The Scriptures themselves urge us to be serious about it. “Be diligent to present yourself…
Read MoreTaking God at His Word
by Gregory Alan Tidwell “Whenever a man begins to draw the distinction between believing in Christ, and believing in the Bible, which reveals Christ, he does not believe in the Christ of the Bible or of God. And he who rejects the Bible, rejects the Christ of the Bible. And he is the only Christ…
Read MoreDisappointed by Christ?
by David Gibson Jesus does not always fulfill people’s expectations. “Teacher,” a man said to Jesus, “tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me” (Luke 12:13 NASB). But Jesus refused, warning him about the trap of greed. When those Jesus fed with the loaves and fish returned the next day for more, Jesus…
Read MoreCannot!
by Don Hooton When Nicodemus came to Jesus, the chat was pretty brief. Nicodemus: “You must be from God because of the signs!” Jesus: “Seriously, you cannot…” Tilting the religious world upside down, Jesus said that some cannot. In our world, where possibilities are said to be behind every impossibility, we sometimes imagine wrongly that…
Read MoreCompare the Babylonian “Coming” with the Roman “Coming”
by Terry Wane Benton Both times Jerusalem was destroyed, it was the coming of the Lord through a powerful nation. When the Babylonians invaded and destroyed Jerusalem in 586 BC, it was the Lord of Hosts (later named Jesus) who came in “glory” (Isaiah 2:12-22). The Lord came in His glory. He came to take…
Read MoreTrust Not in Princes
by Eric M. Hamilton “This is the most important election of our lifetime.” I am quite certain I’ve heard that every four years since I started paying attention to politics. For some people, including many Christians, this refrain is a powerful one. It can fill people with a sense of urgency and dread. If the…
Read MoreSubstituting the Spirit’s Words
by Abraham Smith There are many false ideas about the work and influence of the Holy Spirit. In my estimation, the vast majority of these false ideas are rooted in the fact that people do not understand the connection between the Holy Spirit and the word of God. Ephesians 6:17 reads, “And take the helmet…
Read MoreWhere Are We?
by David Gibson The people of His hometown did not respond positively. Jesus marveled at their unbelief (Mark 6:6). A Gentile centurion believed Jesus could heal his servant simply by speaking the word—without even coming to his house (Matthew 8:5-13). Jesus marveled at his great faith—greater than He had found in His own nation. In…
Read MoreThe Songs of Ascents
by Terry Wane Benton Psalms 120-134 There is a special grouping of Psalms that were often used to prepare the Israelites for making the worship at the temple very special. It was like anticipating the worship to ensure it would not be a vain and wasted moment. You sang or meditated on what would be…
Read MoreExpanding Our Horizons
by David Gibson Years ago, Reader’s Digest published an article by a woman who told how she and her family decided one day to make a game of looking for Volkswagen Bugs as they traveled. It was amazing how many they saw–back when VW Bugs were much more common. Photo by Alexander Kluge on Unsplash…
Read MoreEqual in Christ, Distinct in Roles: A Scriptural Case for Male Leadership in the Church
by Gregory Alan Tidwell I’ve been a preacher in the church for over forty years, and over time, I’ve seen many debates rise up among us. One of the most enduring, particularly in recent decades, is the question of women’s leadership in the church. Many voices today, both from within our fellowship and the broader…
Read MoreThe Nazarene
by David Gibson “Where are you from?” is often asked when people get acquainted. Where is Jesus from? Born in Bethlehem, He lived briefly in Egypt but spent His youth in Nazareth of Galilee. That’s why He is often called the Nazarene. Mary and Joseph were Nazarenes before Jesus was born (Luke 1:26-27; 2:4, 39).…
Read MoreA High Value Man Is a Worthy Man
by Perry Hall A term used in our modern culture to describe men and women is “high value.” Sadly, “high value” is not God’s value. A “high value” man is judged based on income, height, looks, and other “biblically low values.” Also, a “high value” woman can look very little like a “worthy woman.” Many…
Read MoreApproaching the Bible with Reverence
by D. A. Carson “If you approach the Bible with a certain amount of skepticism, it’s pretty easy to be guilty of having the uncertainty seep over into outright skepticism, unbelief, and criticism. If, on the other hand, you approach the Word of God with a certain reverence, then even when you don’t understand, you…
Read MoreDoing Good to All Men?
by Perry Hall The word “good/agathos” is only used twice in Galatians, both within the same pericope. This is important because of the misuse of Galatians 6:10. That misuse is cited for church financial support of both needy saints and those who are not saints. The common argument against this view is that Galatians 6:10…
Read MoreWhen the Elections Are Over
by Doy Moyer When the election is over and whoever wins is in power (like it or not, agree with the results or not), Christians need to remember: The kingdom of God remains unharmed and will always continue well past any current administration (Daniel 2:44). It does not depend on the kingdoms of men to…
Read MoreAt Ease in Zion
by Kyle Ellison Spiritual apathy can be one of the most dangerous situations that a Christian finds themselves in …. the symptoms look like this: Less prayer. Justification for consistently missing services, but find yourself doing other things. It becomes easier and easier to miss gathering with God’s people. Less Bible reading. Becoming comfortable with…
Read MoreCould he marry again?
Question: If a Christian man marries a woman who divorced her husband, without it being for adultery, he lived with her for several years, then she cheated on him, so he separated from her. Is he still an adulterer? Could he remarry a free and Christian woman? Answer: “But I say to you that…
Read MoreExpanding the Family
by David Gibson I knew a wonderful family in Pennsylvania who lived in a big house on Flagstaff Mountain—a great place for kids. This Christian home opened its doors to those with special needs, and several of the children were adopted. For centuries, God’s family consisted of His covenant people, the descendants of Jacob. Tragically, many…
Read MoreWho Gets the Most Out of It?
by David Gibson A student joked, “You know, school wouldn’t be half bad if it weren’t for the tests and term papers!” He knows, of course, that such requirements are not just busy work. They are necessary to maximize learning. Easy Does It? If a student chooses to audit a course, he can attend class…
Read MoreBut What Does It Say in the Greek?
by Terry Wane Benton I find it interesting that people sometimes think they can somehow over-rule the English translation of a verse by saying, “But what does it say in the Greek?” What? Do you want me to say it in Greek? How would that help? I speak English! You understand only English. The translators…
Read MoreDisciple People
by Ross Ward, Jr. “Therefore, as you go, disciple people in all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything that I’ve commanded you. And remember, I am with you each and every day until the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20…
Read MoreOn a Christian’s Name
“In the first place, I ask that men make no reference to my name; let them call themselves Christians, not Lutherans. What is Luther? After all, the teaching is not mine (John 7:16). Neither was I crucified for anyone (1 Cor. 1:13). St. Paul, in 1 Corinthians 3, would not allow the Christians to call…
Read MoreIt Doesn’t Matter What You Believe
by Perry Hall This might surprise you, but I agree. I spoke with an agnostic whose family had been persecuted by so-called Christians. They fled from their homeland for American freedom, much like many others who believed in Jesus. Ironically, both pagans and believers fled from persecution, seeking religious freedom. The agnostic said she hoped…
Read MorePost-Truth?
by Doy Moyer If we cannot know truth, then we cannot know anything, for any knowledge claim is a truth claim. For the Christian, truth is as fundamental as it gets. It speaks to the heart of what is real, and without a sense of reality, we are indeed lost. Truth is everything, tied to…
Read MoreIn Spirit and in Truth
by Jon W. Quinn I cast a shadow if I were walking down the street and the sun was shining. Its size and shape mimic my own to some degree. It is a lot shorter than I really am at midday. It is a lot taller than I am when the sun is low on…
Read MoreMarshall Keeble
by Hugh Fulford Marshall Keeble (1878-1968) Marshall Keeble was a famous African-American evangelist among churches of Christ who began preaching in 1897 and spent the entirety of his life in evangelistic meetings all across America. He preached in most of the major cities of the U. S. –north, south, east, and west — as well…
Read MoreWhat Happened on that Cross?
by Perry Hall What happened on the cross? Did Jesus become a sinful creature? Classical Calvinism and its modern version of Reformed Theology teach that Jesus’s righteousness is imputed to us. They picture this as an umbrella covering us, which leads to the idea of once saved, always saved because Jesus’s righteousness covers us. “He…
Read MoreThe Crown
by Wayne S. Walker A few years ago, I had to have a gold crown put on a tooth that kept chipping. As I was sitting in the dentist’s chair waiting, I realized that the word “crown” appears quite frequently in the New Testament, so when I arrived back at the office, I studied it.…
Read MoreAI’s Dangers
by Doy Moyer AI (artificial intelligence) is undoubtedly an amazing achievement for humanity, and there are legitimate ways to use it. I’m not talking here about those ways (There is plenty of healthy debate about this). I will, however, express some concerns, especially as one who has been involved in education for several years. When…
Read MoreOnly God’s Righteousness Is in View?
by Terry Wane Benton We need to be careful about what we swallow from preachers and teachers. Search the Scriptures to find out what is so (Acts 17:11). An example of a concern in this regard is in the words of a brother who says that the difference between the Old Law and the New…
Read MoreWhat Was the Issue?
by Bill Hall Church-Supported Orphans’ Homes: What Was the Issue? The Sponsoring Church Arrangement: What Was the Issue? Kitchens and Fellowship Halls: What Was the Issue?
Read MoreWill the Tribulation Come After the Rapture?
by Terry Wane Benton Be careful not to assume that what you hear about the tribulation and the rapture is grounded in sound biblical exegesis. Reading into the Scriptures and twisting the Scriptures can mean destruction to you and others (II Peter 3:16). So, make sure you are not following someone blindly into the ditch.…
Read MoreTrusting God Through the Storms
by Doy Moyer Storms can be frightening. Lightning and thunder can be a bit terrifying when it gets close. Flood waters can overwhelm, winds can level, and human beings can only run and hide. We sometimes wonder why, but we are reminded that we are not the ones who control nature. We are humbled as…
Read MoreChristian Victim Card
by Chadwick Brewer “Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you” (I John 3:13). Christians are disdained and hated for their strong convictions of faith, radical morality, and different ways of life. In a world of political correctness, it is still socially acceptable to mock and denigrate Christians. When Christians are maligned and…
Read MoreGod Seems so Mean!
by Zeke Flores One of the objections many have against God is that He seems so … mean. Indeed, throughout a reading of the major prophets, God has consistently warned about the catastrophic devastation He would bring not only upon His own people but also upon pagan nations. Again and again, He denounced their behavior,…
Read MoreDid I do something wrong?
Question: Hello! I have a question for you guys: Does having sex with someone makes you a married couple? If not, then am I obligated to marry the man I had sex with? I have a doubt in my heart that’s been tormenting me. I had sex with some guys before getting married. I was…
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