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Why Do You Go to School?
by Jefferson David Tant Well, one might say, “That’s really a dumb question. We go to school to learn, prepare for our adult lives, and learn how to survive in the world. To learn how to read. And there are many reasons why going to school and getting an education are necessary to live in…
Read MoreWritten Reminders
by Zeke Flores “You shall write on the stones all the words of this law very distinctly” (Deuteronomy 27:8). Israel was to set up stones with the law written clearly. The point was visibility and clarity. God’s instruction wasn’t meant to be hidden or vague to serve as clear instruction. Moses wanted the people to…
Read MoreThe Spiritual Discipline of Subtraction
by Gary Henry WordPoints.com “Moses’ father-in-law said to him, ‘The thing that you do is not good. Both you and these people who are with you will surely wear yourselves out. For this thing is too much for you'” (Exodus 18:17-18). In these days of extreme busyness, the very thought of deleting anything from our…
Read MoreLove One Another
by Hugh DeLong One of the best synopses of the nature and character of ‘love’ is found in I Corinthians 13. Many preachers, myself included, have found it useful to illustrate what it means for a husband to love his wife. I will continue to do this; however, it is instructive to realize this context…
Read MoreEdification
by Hugh DeLong “Let all things be done for edification” (I Corinthians 14:26 NASB95). But what does ‘edification’ mean in practical terms? Often it is used to mean educate or teach. While it includes that, it also means simply ‘to build up’. This is said in connection with our association in a local church group,…
Read MoreThe Beloved Son
by Edwin Crozier Gabriel told Mary the Holy Spirit would empower her to conceive a child who would be called “Son of the Most High.” Thirty years later, when this infant had grown into a man, He was baptized in the Jordan. The heavens were opened. The Holy Spirit descended on Him like a dove. A…
Read MoreJust and Full Weights
by Zeke Flores “You shall have a full and just weight; you shall have a full and just measure …” (Deuteronomy 25:15). This command deals with honest measurements. Dishonest scales were a quiet way to cheat customers. Moses addresses it because integrity isn’t just about big decisions; it’s about everyday transactions. Israel was expected to…
Read MorePaul and Headship
by Hugh DeLong As you read I Corinthians 11, stop and meditate on this distinction. Many people in our country today dislike the concept of headship and may even use I Corinthians 11:11-12 to deny the rest of this section, but the truth can be built on the fact that Christ is the head of…
Read MoreWho Is the Prophet?
by David Gibson Moses said, “The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me . . . you shall listen to him” (Deuteronomy 18:15). The Jews of the first century expected this Prophet (John 1:19-21; 6:14; 7:40). Whoever it was would be remarkable indeed, considering how great Moses was (Numbers 12:6-8). Muslims…
Read MoreMembers of One Body
by Hugh DeLong Paul begins this letter by noting divisions within the church at Corinth. He addresses each issue in turn. In chapter 12, he gives the underlying reason such division is a problem: there is only one body, made up of many members. When we read ‘members’, we are apt to see this from…
Read MorePigs and Pearls
by Chadwick Brewer “Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you” (Matthew 7:6). What a struggle it is to know when and how to apply this verse! How do I know whether I am being a good influence…
Read MoreLoving versus Approving
by Terry Wane Benton Daily Points of Light from Heaven One thing people have gotten confused about is the difference between love and approval. God loves sinners (Romans 5:8) but does not approve of and accept them until they repent (Luke 13:3; Acts 17:30-31). God will reject many people whom He loves (Matthew 7:13-14, 21f).…
Read MoreIs there a difference between living in sin and falling into sin?
Question: Hello brother, I have a question for you. There is a teaching about living in sin and falling into sin. Living in sin is basically sin in which one continues sinning in that sin or sins. Falling is more like you are walking and you trip, you fall down, but you get back up…
Read MoreTreating Vulnerable Workers Fairly
by Zeke Flores “You shall not oppress a hired servant who is poor and needy” (Deuteronomy 24:14). This command addresses economic vulnerability. Israel was expected to treat workers fairly, especially those who had little leverage. Oppression wasn’t always loud; sometimes it was delayed wages, unfair treatment, or exploiting someone’s situation. Moses is teaching that righteousness…
Read MoreTurn Away from Them
by Bill Robinson Understanding Paul’s Command The sharpest warning Paul ever wrote sits in the middle of a thank-you list. Romans 16 is the warmest chapter he ever put on paper. He names close to thirty people. Phoebe, who carried the letter. Prisca and Aquila, who risked their necks for him. Mary, who worked hard.…
Read MoreWhy is God allowing me to endure this?
Question: Dear Pastor, I hope you are doing well. I am suffering from an illness and feel utterly exhausted; I have lost all hope for life. I often ask God why I have to go through this and why things aren’t happening the way I want them to. I simply do not understand why God…
Read MoreYour Camp Must Be Holy
by Zeke Flores “Since Yahweh your God walks in the midst of your camp … your camp must be holy” (Deuteronomy 23:13). Israel’s camp wasn’t just a living space; God was there too. That meant their environment needed to reflect order, respect, and intentionality. Holiness wasn’t abstract; it affected daily life. Moses is teaching Israel…
Read MoreIdolatry and Corinth
by Hugh DeLong The city of Corinth was a beehive of religious ideas and practices. This included the traditional Greek gods, the Roman gods and civic religion, the worship of the Emperor and imperial family, and the many differing religious practices brought by travelers and immigrants. As a result, there were many temples, shrines, altars,…
Read MoreJehovah’s Witnesses Beliefs
by Jefferson David Tant Jehovah’s Witnesses Believe Jesus Is Michael the Archangel. The Bible teaches that God has never said to any of his angels, “You Are My Son… today have I begotten Thee.” The Bible teaches that Jesus is not an angel. Hebrews 1:5 and 2:5 state, “For to which of the angels did…
Read MoreYou Are Only Young Once
by Jefferson David Tant Well, that’s obvious, isn’t it? I’ve never heard of anyone going through their youth twice. So, what are the implications? What is the importance of this fact? The reality is that in our young years, we set the course for our lives. We start on the course we will follow for…
Read MoreLove Your Enemies
by Gary McDade The gentle Savior pled with the human family to love our enemies (Matthew 5:44; Luke 6:27). And in this, His teaching was, and still is, revolutionary today. Revolutionary: “involving or causing a complete or dramatic change.” Emerging from Old Testament teaching was the concept of being saved from your enemies, or delivered…
Read MoreHis Winnowing Fan Is in His Hand
by Terry Wane Benton Daily Points of Light from Heaven “I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand,…
Read MoreBy Degrees
by David Gibson When I started working in the college cafeteria, two things bothered me: the heat of the freshly washed dishes I stacked, and the high-decibel noise of the kitchen. Soon my hands adjusted to the heat, and my ears to the racket. I got used to it. Getting used to evil? As our…
Read MoreBring the Books
by Edwin Crozier Text: II Timothy 4 Paul concludes his letter with a series of requests connected with “Do your best to come to me soon.” Paul knows his time is limited, but he doesn’t know the exact day he will depart. “Come soon, Timothy,” Paul tells him, and he tells him about the other…
Read MoreI Hope to See You
by Warren E. Berkley Yes, I know. As I write and post this, I know mine is only one voice in a growing chorus. Still, putting these thoughts into words will help me—and perhaps encourage greater vigilance among those who read them. These concerns have deepened as I have studied and taught the book of…
Read MoreThe Danger of Overcorrecting
by Clay Gentry Imagine you’re driving down the highway and getting distracted for just a few seconds. Suddenly you hear and feel it – the noise of the rumble strip and the violent jolt as your right-side tires leave the asphalt. In that moment of sudden panic, human instinct takes over. You white-knuckle the wheel…
Read MoreFixing What Is Broken Around You
by Zeke Flores “So you shall remove the guilt of innocent blood from your midst, when you do what is right in the eyes of Yahweh” (Deuteronomy 21:9). This verse comes from a section dealing with unsolved murder. Israel was responsible for maintaining justice even when the offender wasn’t known. The community had to take…
Read MorePeaceable Kingdom
by James W. Adams via Sentry Magazine, Vol. 22 No. 3, September 1996 [The following article was recently written by an 81-year-old gospel preacher who has observed what others of us are observing. The Lord’s body is being destroyed by zealots who have no love for the truth or their brethren. Nothing in this article asks…
Read MoreThe New Denominationalism
by Kenny Chumbley via Sentry Magazine, Vol. 22 No. 3, September 1996 Apostasy is an ever-present threat to God’s people. The Spirit explicitly warned that some would depart from the faith (I Timothy 4:1). In his second letter to Timothy, Paul showed that apostasy elevates the things of man over the things of God (II Timothy…
Read MoreDo the Work of an Evangelist
by Edwin Crozier Timothy’s job is to preach the word. However, he needs to be prepared for folks not to listen. No doubt, there will always be the faithful. But Paul has already told him the difficult times are coming. Clearly, if there will be people who have the appearance of godliness but deny its…
Read MoreLove His Appearing
by Edwin Crozier This final push in II Timothy 4 comes because Paul knows this imprisonment will be his last. The time has come for him to give his life for his King. He faces it with dignity and honor. He’s fought the fight, finished the race, kept the faith. He knows His King will…
Read MoreMarriage Again and Again
by Hugh DeLong Clear back in the first century, people had marriage problems. Actually, from the beginning of humanity! My wife and I have been watching more British TV shows, and it seems like everyone is in an unhappy marriage. They are unhappy being married to the person they were head-over-heels in love with, the…
Read MoreGod Is with You
by Zeke Flores “Do not be afraid of them, for Yahweh your God is with you” (Deuteronomy 20:1). Deuteronomy 20 addresses warfare, but its principle appears in Deuteronomy 20:1. Israel faced real enemies, not theoretical ones. Fear was a natural response, but Moses tells them to evaluate the situation differently. Their confidence wasn’t based on…
Read MoreComplete in Christ
by Terry Wane Benton Daily Points of Light from Heaven A denominational preacher wrote: “Paul says: ‘And ye are complete in him…’ (Colossians 2:10). Think about that. Complete. Not almost complete. Not complete after water baptism. Complete in Christ.” His argument is flawed. We are complete in Christ, no doubt, but how do we get…
Read MoreA Call for Concern
by Floyd Chappelear via Sentry Magazine, Vol 22 No. 3, September 1996 “Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks; I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how…
Read MoreHe Who Has Ears, Let Him Hear!
by Sid Latham via Biblical Insights, Vol. 14 No. 8, August 2014 Jesus uttered this proclamation on the heels of the parable of the sower (Matthew 13:9). It has been said to be an invitation to give special consideration to what has been said— to listen carefully and then respond. That is certainly true. However, this…
Read MoreWhat Is Lasciviousness?
by Wayne Jackson What is “lasciviousness,” as mentioned in Galatians 5:19? The Greek word behind the English term “lascivious” is aselgeia. It occurs nine times in the New Testament. Twice it is rendered as “wantonness” (Romans 13:13; II Peter 2:18), and once it appears as “filthy” (II Peter 2:7). The other six times it is…
Read MoreSlow-Paced Favors
by Mike Johnson via Seeking Things Above Proverbs 3:27-28 says, “Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in the power of your hand to do so. Do not say to your neighbor, ‘Go, and come back, and tomorrow I will give it,’ when you have it with you.” The…
Read MorePrecious Is the Death of a Saint
by Mike Johnson via Seeking Things Above Psalm 116:15 informs us, “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.” What does this mean? People think of death in many different ways. A loved one’s death is one of the greatest agonies people typically face in their lives. We think of…
Read MoreTrue Prophets
by Zeke Flores “I will put My words in his mouth” (Deuteronomy 18:18). Deuteronomy 18 introduces the promise of a prophet like Moses. Israel needed reliable guidance, not guesswork or superstition. This chapter contrasts true prophets with false ones. The difference isn’t style; it’s source. True prophets speak what God says while false prophets speak…
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