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Changes in the Storm
by Charles Box This lesson requires us to answer the question, “Exactly what is a miracle?” The term “Miracle” is used far too loosely and frequently in our society. “A miracle is a divine operation that transcends what is normally perceived as natural law; it cannot be explained upon any natural basis.” Some miracles involved…
Read MoreAbortion and the Question of God
by Lawrence Kelley The defining characteristic of the modern secular age is the same characteristic that asserted itself at the very beginning of the world. After Eve had listened to the cunning lies of Satan, she found the forbidden fruit desirable because it would make her wise (Genesis 3:6). Yes, the fruit appealed to her…
Read MoreAre You Tired of This World?
by Robert Dodson I do not have to tell any of you that we live in an evil world. We are all quite aware of the sorrow, heartache, misery, suffering, and death in our world. Some are angry at God about it. It raises questions and doubts in our hearts, causing some to wonder if…
Read MoreOf Visitors, Floaters, and Members of the Flock
by Terry Wane Benton I Peter 5:1f shows an elder-flock relationship. The elders know how many people are in the flock and who is just a visitor and who is an uncommitted floater. This verse attests to the autonomy or independence of the local church. It also implies that a local church is a flock.…
Read MoreBruised
by Terry Wane Benton “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, and you shall bruise him on the heel” (Genesis 3:15). The very first prophecy of “the seed of the woman” bruising the head of the Serpent and…
Read MoreO Lord, How Long?
by Doy Moyer “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up” (Galatians 6:9). The world makes us weary as we constantly battle, attempting to coerce us to bow to its cultural idols. With a cultish mentality, the world takes on a…
Read MoreFaith and Evidence
by Shane Scott Several years ago, I decided I needed a hobby. I had many interests – basketball, fantasy baseball, and music – but I engaged in all of these pastimes with members of the church where I preached, or with fellow Christians in the area. I needed a hobby that would put me in…
Read MoreInternal Issues
by Doy Moyer We cannot see what is going on inside someone. That’s obvious, but sometimes our judgments about people assume that everything should be normal for them because we can’t see anything outwardly wrong. If we see them acting in ways we would otherwise expect, we might judge them to be rude, or worse.…
Read MoreThe Problem with an “Attendance Problem”
by Joey Sparks Worship attendance can be a sensitive issue for Christians. Some are satisfied with coming only on Sunday mornings. Or Sunday evenings. Or for long enough to take the Lord’s Supper. Some are content with worshiping only on holidays. Some are only at the local assembly when facing tough times. Although some individuals…
Read MoreThe Bible Alone Is the Word of God
by Terry Wane Benton No other book is equal to the Bible. Neither the Quran nor the Book of Mormon equals the Bible in the marks or proofs of divine origin. What convinces me that the Bible alone is God’s Word? In summary, I would appeal to three areas: It claims to be the word…
Read MoreExternal Evidence of Jesus’ Miracles
by Terry Wane Benton Do secular and Jewish writings mention or explain the miracles and powers of Jesus? Secular and Jewish sources from antiquity do not mention or explain Jesus’ miracles in a manner that supports them. Still, they do provide external acknowledgment that he had a reputation as a miracle worker. These writings, however,…
Read MoreBy What Authority? (Matthews)
by Samuel Matthews “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; who gave…
Read MoreDon’t Quit. Do It
by Zeke Flores We love our friends and family, so we want to keep them from harm. When we know a certain course will lead to hurt or injury, we do what we can to persuade them otherwise. That’s what Paul’s friends tried to do in Acts 21. A prophet warned that going to Jerusalem…
Read MoreThe Value of Good Intentions
by David Gibson When you hear the expression “good intentions,” what comes to mind? A noble desire that fizzles out? We even have a saying, “The road to hell is paved with good intentions.” Empty promises An example of good intentions gone awry is that of the Israelites’ repeated pledge to obey God (Exodus 19:8;…
Read MorePredestined
by Terry Wane Benton “He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will” (Ephesians 1:5). Jesus was predestined to die for the sins of the world, and a church was predestined to form around the call of the gospel to come into His grace.…
Read MoreWould You Pray that Prayer?
by Jonathan Banning In Psalm 7, King David makes a shocking petition to God, “O’ Lord my God, if I have done this, if there is injustice in my hands… let the enemy pursue my soul and overtake it; and let him trample my life down to the ground and lay my glory in the…
Read MoreMalachi: Do We Truly See Ourselves?
by Steve Klein Malachi lived and prophesied in Judah and Jerusalem, approximately a hundred years after the first group of Jewish captives returned to their homeland from the Babylonian captivity. In point of time, this corresponds roughly with the events of the book of Nehemiah and the latter part of Ezra (circa 440 B.C.). God’s…
Read MoreFour Problems with Worry
by Warren Berkley By “worry,” I mean the debilitating, nagging sense of doom that goes further than concern and sympathy, does not involve any remedial activity to solve a real problem, and is characterized by habitual, constant churning thoughts of despair. It is often unreasonable and a prelude to depression. Webster’s Dictionary (1913, p. 1666)…
Read MoreWhat Is Doctrine?
by Mike Riley The word “doctrine” means “teaching”, either of an individual or a group. But from what source? For example, Jesus warned His disciples about the “doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees” (Matthew 16:12). Their “doctrine” or teaching originated from an uninspired source. The people were astonished at the “teaching” or “doctrine” of Christ,…
Read MoreAre We Still Looking for the Wrong Kind of Answers?
by Mike Riley While television has a myriad of programming to watch, the most entertaining offerings are the commercials. A few years back, one of the more amusing ads was the one for Toyota minivans in which Bob, the safety engineer, demonstrates to two young boys how automobiles are crash-tested. By remote control, Bob slams…
Read MoreThe Bitter Heart
by Terry Wane Benton He said something they did not like, and they did not want to admit it was the truth; from then on, nothing he said was respected. They continued to backstab him, trying to undermine him by manipulating others. There was no room for loving him and forgiving him. Even if he…
Read MoreTruth and Love
by Doy Moyer Truth and love are not at odds. Both are needed simultaneously. Truth without love can be unkind, cold, and heartless. Love without truth will be arbitrary, compromising reality, and without standards. However, together, united, truth and love will be purposeful, compassionate, and committed to what is best for all. Jesus is the…
Read MoreMaterialistic Naturalism: Is There Really a Spirit Realm?
by Terry Wane Benton To show that God has spoken (Hebrews 1:1-2) from His realm into ours, we would need words from Him that would demonstrate knowledge and power over our future. Daniel told Nebuchadnezzar of such a God who reveals secrets. (Read Daniel 2). He told Nebuchadnezzar what he dreamed and what the dream…
Read MoreBombard Your Heart with Good Things
by Terry Wane Benton If you let social media bombard your mind with all this social, political, and racial tension, soon you feel like everything good about our country and our neighbors has gone. But when you notice the birds, nature, and your surrounding neighbors, and you hear children laughing in the area, you then…
Read MoreBe Merciful
by Doy Moyer We cannot see what is going on inside someone. That’s obvious, but sometimes our judgments about people assume that everything should be normal for them because we can’t see anything outwardly wrong. If we see them acting in ways we would otherwise expect, we might judge them to be rude, or worse.…
Read MoreGood News?
by David Gibson His mission The Bible calls him “a righteous and holy man” (Mark 6:20 NASB). Jesus said of him, “He was the lamp that was burning and was shining …” (John 5:35). The task of John the Baptist was to prepare the people of Israel for the coming Messiah. John’s preaching consisted of…
Read MoreThe Place of Preaching
by David Gibson Why some won’t listen Have you ever heard someone say, “Don’t preach to me!” Preaching is not always appreciated. The rebellious inner self, the Bible says, must be put aside. In its place, there must be childlike humility. We must be willing to yield control of our lives to God and make…
Read MoreWho Are the Sons of God in the Book of Job?
Author Unknown Almost every reference in the Bible to “sons of God” refers to men who live in harmony with the will of God. However, I believe the three instances of the sons of God found in Job (Job 1:6; Job 2:1; Job 38:7) refer to angels. I would be inclined to believe that the…
Read MoreWhat About “Faith Only?”
by Mike Riley It is not uncommon to hear sincere religious folks speak of being saved by “faith only”. They say, “All you have to do is believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.” Their statement is designed to convey the concept that one is saved at the exact moment of belief in Jesus. Those who…
Read MoreAmazingly Saved and Radically Changed by the Cross
by David Gibson Why did Jesus die on the cross? To save our souls? Indeed, He did, but that’s not all. For Him His death means the end of our self-centered living and the beginning of Christ-centered living: “he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him…
Read MoreRestoring the Spirit of the Early Church
by Edward O. Bragwell, Sr. Members of the churches of Christ today generally recognize that they are beneficiaries of “the restoration movement” that began in this country in the late 1700s. While we recognize that our faith and practice must not be rooted in that movement, but in the New Testament, we are grateful to…
Read MoreThe Godly Family
by Marc Hyde When you think of family, you think of being close, doing things together, and looking out for one another. You care for one another, look out for each other, and want to see each other do good and succeed. You do not like to see others hurt or make fun of them.…
Read MoreWill Christ Reign on Earth for a Thousand Years?
by Samuel Matthews Loved ones, the doctrine of Premillennialism teaches that, when Christ returns, there will be a resurrection of the righteous. Then there will be a seven-year rapture (the righteous taken to heaven) while there are seven years of tribulation on earth (during which the antichrist reigns). At the end of the seven years,…
Read MoreSkeptic: Blunders About Jesus and Bethlehem
by Terry Wane Benton “Further, other claimed ‘fulfilled prophecies’ falter under scrutiny: Micah 5:2 (“born in Bethlehem”) addresses a contemporary Davidic ruler from the 8th century BCE, whereas Matthew appears to adapt the narrative to make Jesus’ origin fit this prophecy, despite other Gospel accounts indicating his roots in Nazareth.” The prophecy of Micah 5:2…
Read MoreBaptism
by J. W. McGarvey Since it has been announced that my subject would be baptism, I think it is highly probable that the question has arisen in the minds of some, Why another sermon on that old, hackneyed theme? Perhaps the objection has arisen that this subject has been discussed and debated for hundreds of…
Read MoreThoughts of Spring
by Bobby L. Graham via Biblical Insights, Vol. 15 No. 2, February 2015 “My beloved spake, and said unto me, Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away. For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone; the flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds…
Read MoreMy Servant: Israel or Jesus?
by Terry Wane Benton The skeptic claims: “Christian interpretations emerged over the centuries, often distorting the original meanings by selectively quoting verses and overlooking the nuances of Hebrew grammar. For example, in Isaiah 49:3, the servant is explicitly identified as “Israel.” Here, the skeptic took a verse out of its context and pretended that “My…
Read MoreYou Need a Church
by Jarred McCrary Available data indicate a decline in church attendance nationwide — a trend that has accelerated significantly in recent years. One writer described the rate of attendance as dropping like a cannonball in a pie filling. In case you’re wondering, that’s not a good thing. People need church, and by “people” I mean…
Read MoreThoughts on Balaam
by Josh Welch Been thinking a lot about Balaam lately. The New Testament warns about him three times (II Peter 2:15-16; Jude 11; Revelation 2:14). Yet, when I read Numbers 22-24 in the Old Testament account, he’s just a real conundrum to me. He doesn’t seem all that bad on the surface. Actually seems like…
Read MoreLife and Death
by Chadwick Brewer “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits” (Proverbs 18:21). Our words are more powerful than we often realize. They can bring life or deal death. Proverbs 18:21 reminds us that “death and life are in the power of the tongue,”…
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