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Know with Certainty
by Doy Moyer “For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience”…
Read MoreThe Work of an Evangelist
by Edward O. Bragwell, Sr. I got to thinking about evangelists and evangelism in general. An evangelist (Gr. euaggelistes) is a preacher of good news (the gospel – Gr. euaggelion) and evangelism is what an evangelist does – preaches that good news. An evangelist preaches the gospel to the world to save it from sin. Philip was…
Read MoreAfter Twenty-Two Years
by Kent Heaton The story of Joseph is remarkable for many reasons. His visions set him at odds with his brothers who would eventually sell him to a passing band of Midianites (without Reuben’s knowledge). He would be sold on the slavery block to the captain of Pharaoh’s guard where he served honorably until unjustly…
Read MoreLove Is a Verb
by Wilson Adams “I don’t love my wife like I used to…” “Let me guess, you’ve lost that lovin’ feeling?” “Yes.” “What do you suggest?” “Love her.” “Love her? That’s the problem. I don’t love her. The feeling just isn’t there.” “Then…love her.” “Maybe you didn’t hear what I said. I said, the…feeling…is…not…there!” “Okay. Got…
Read MoreMoments that Test Us
by Mike Thomas Persecution reveals the quality of our faith in the same way fire reveals the nature of metal (I Peter 1:7). But persecution is not the only moment that reveals our character. There are other scenes in life that are just as effective in exposing our inner man: Being Alone Photo by Warren…
Read MoreMixed Marriages (Hamilton)
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton While Israel was in captivity due to their many sins, the people lived among the foreign nations for so long that they became lax in following God’s commands. A major factor contributing to this came from their mixed marriages – Israelites marrying foreigners who brought their religious practices into the union.…
Read MoreWe Thank God for You
by Ethan Longhenry via Biblical Insights, August 2014 We live in a time of extremes when it comes to self-esteem and affirmation. Some people are constantly criticized, derided, and put down, even by family members, and feel as if they are worthless and can never be good enough. Other people receive nothing but praise and affirmations…
Read MoreThe Profitable Word
by Irven Lee It certainly makes sense for one to suggest that man should study the Bible. The Bible is a revelation of the will of God. This revelation includes His authoritative commandments which man must obey if he would please his Creator, and it includes the exceeding great and precious promises concerning the good…
Read MoreCommandment Keeping and Boasting
by Edward Bragwell, Sr. via Biblical Insights, June 2014 Jesus declares that hypothetically if we were to keep all his commands, we would still have no right to boast. “So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to…
Read MoreTime for Churches of Christ to Fellowship Other Groups?
by Wes McAdam via Radically Christian This is a hard post to write. I realize what I’m about to say may be misunderstood or misconstrued. But as difficult as it is to find the right words, this is something that must be said. In fact, I believe there is no greater issue facing the church today.…
Read MoreThrow Away Relationships
by Terry Wane Benton We live in a world of throw-away things. If we don’t want something anymore, we simply throw it away or trade it off for something new and different. Man has thrown away his responsibility to God, and then throws away anyone else that tries to stand in his way. Children grow…
Read MoreBad Company Corrupts Good Morals
by Doy Moyer Most are familiar with Paul’s argument in I Corinthians 15, that if Jesus was not raised, and there is no resurrection, then our faith is vain, preaching is vain, and we are to be pitied for believing it all. Another argument that we often make has to do with how pointless life…
Read MoreAre the Gospel Writers Credible?
by Wayne Jackson The writers of the Gospel accounts — Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John — quite definitely affirm that Jesus Christ claimed to be the Son of God and that he performed miracles to authenticate that affirmation. Further, they allege that even though Jesus was put to death on the cross, after three days…
Read MoreOn Stoning Adulterers and Not Eating Shellfish
by Hugh Fulford via The Fellowship Room Periodically — at least three or four times a year — someone feels compelled to demonstrate his or her lack of knowledge of the Bible by writing a letter to the editor of the local newspaper railing against Bible-believers who oppose homosexuality. (Capital punishment of convicted murderers is another…
Read MoreNo Past, No Future
by Terry Partain The US Census Bureau has a new category called “unrelated individuals” to describe those who do not live in a “family group.” Such Americans have increased in huge numbers over the last forty years. Even among those who live in family groups, 25% feel lonely and have no one to confide in.…
Read MoreWhat Did Jesus Really Say?
by Jacob Wooten I saw this picture below posted on Facebook and I’ve seen similar statements before, so I feel like this kind of thinking might be widespread both in the world and perhaps among those who would say they are of faith. Let’s examine this reasoning and see what Jesus really says according to the Bible. …
Read MoreWhat Do You Do For Fun?
by Jim McGuiggan in The Irish Papers A young man tried to talk a young lady into sexual intercourse but she wouldn’t hear tell of it. Then he offered her booze she wouldn’t touch. A little later he wanted to share some marijuana with her but she turned that down, too. By this time he was…
Read MoreReaching the Youth
by Terry Partain Forty-five years ago I was hired to work with another preacher to especially reach out to the youth. I was too late. The youth and their parents had separate social lives. The practice of catering to groups according to their age has destroyed the bonds of affection and understanding as well as…
Read MorePharaoh’s Hard Heart
by Matthew Bassford There are few Scriptural discussions with more doctrinal overtones than the discussion of what God does to Pharaoh’s heart in Exodus. The text does, after all, say several times, “God hardened Pharaoh’s heart.” It’s this way in every translation of the Bible I’ve ever seen. That’s the evidence. Calvinists, though, like to…
Read MoreA “Systemic” Problem
by Ethan R. Longhenry For the past 200 or so years, we have seen a fundamental shift in the way that people relate to one another. The Industrial Revolution has certainly brought its share of benefits: greater productivity, acceleration in the development of technology, a greater quality of life, and longer-lasting life, among other things.…
Read MoreArguing with Atheists
by Casey Head Via The King’s Way at Queen Way I work at a university. That’s something I thought I’d never say. I guess I’d better clarify. I’m not a professor, a graduate student getting paid to do research, a university official…or even a janitor or landscaper. I’m actually just an evangelist who happens to carry…
Read MoreArbitrary Morality
by Doy Moyer Society treats morality in an arbitrary fashion. Racism is condemned in the strongest of terms (rightly so) while openly practicing adultery and fornication is considered normal and acceptable. People use vulgarities as a regular way to talk, while the same people will craft a list of the politically correct terminology for the…
Read MoreThe Christian’s Reign
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton A large number of passages establish the reign of Christians. Paul tells us that Christians will reign with Christ after this life is over. “This is a faithful saying: For if we died with Him, We shall also live with Him. If we endure, We shall also reign with Him. If…
Read MoreWhy Homosexuals Are Receiving So Much Attention
by Edward O. Bragwell Sr. “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God” (I Corinthians 6:9-10). We are sometimes…
Read MorePotential Is Not Enough
by Doy Moyer “It is a most mortifying reflection for a man to consider what he has done, compared to what he might have done” (Samuel Johnson, 1770). Potential has to do with something that can happen but has not yet happened. It has to do with possibilities: unrealized and undeveloped. While it is good…
Read MoreBrethren with Too Many Relatives
by Edward O Bragwell, Sr. via Guardian of Truth, April 18, 1985 No, I am not talking about a population explosion. I am not even talking about long-lost cousins that surface when someone starts a rumor that we have come into some money. I am talking about relatives as opposed to absolutes. It is near…
Read MoreThe Accuser of Our Brethren
by Steve Wallace Via Guardian of Truth, March 20, 1997 In Revelation 12:10 Satan is referred to as “the accuser of our brethren.” The word “accuse” is defined, “(1) to charge with, or declare to have committed a crime, (2) to find at fault; to blame . . .” (Webster 14). Sometimes a person is justly…
Read MoreDoes a Camel Bone Disprove the Bible?
by Terry Partain Fox News, Yahoo News, Forbes, Duke University, and of course the New York Times have jumped on a story from Tel Aviv University that claims they have finally found evidence that the Bible made a mistake. Could be they think Bill Nye the Science Guy needs a little help. They have found camel bones…
Read MoreBetrayal of David and Jesus
by Joe Works David Jesus As David was being betrayed, he crossed the Brook Kidron (II Samuel 15:23) As Jesus was being betrayed, he crossed the Brook Kidron (John 18:1) David prayed that God’s will be done with him (II Samuel 15:26) Jesus prayed that God’s will be done with Him (Luke 22:42) He went…
Read MoreThe Church Is the Kingdom
by James R. Cope via The Preceptor, Vol. 1, No. 11, Sept. 1952. Within the past twenty years, much has been written and spoken about the “church phase of the kingdom” in connection with premillennialism. For the most part, the influence of those who would deny the “eternal purpose” of God in and through the church…
Read MoreThe Truth About Marijuana
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton I run into so many people who argue that there is nothing harmful about marijuana that I thought it best to share this video about the actual facts. Argument: You should have the right to do what you want with your own body The argument is applied inconsistently. The same people…
Read MoreMy “Church” Membership
by Edward O. Bragwell, Sr. I am not a member of a denomination called “Church of Christ” or “Churches of Christ” or a denomination with any other name. The local church where I regularly attend is not a congregation of the “Church of Christ” denomination. Yet, I have been a member of the church of…
Read MoreHe That is Without Sin Among You
by Bob Waldron One time the Pharisees brought a woman who had been taken in adultery to Jesus and asked Him what to do about her. Should she be stoned as the law said? They were not really interested in the law, nor right and wrong, nor the woman. They were trying Jesus “that they…
Read MoreThe Work of Elders Is the “Critical” Matter
by Randy Blackaby Virtually any study or discussion of church “elders” immediately focuses on the qualifications for this office. Does the person have “believing children,” what does that entail, and must all his children be faithful? Is the person “apt or able to teach” and is he a good leader in the home? But when…
Read MoreWould Jesus Bake a Cake for a Homosexual Marriage?
by Jonathan Perz Yes. Jesus ate with sinners (Luke 5:30). Jesus washed sinners’ feet (John 13:1-20). Jesus let His feet be anointed by a prostitute (Luke 7:36-50). Jesus chose twelve sinners to be His apostles, one of whom would betray Him (Matthew 10:2-4). Jesus even died for sinners (Romans 5:8). He lived His perfect life…
Read MorePh.D., LLD, DD, Ed.D, Th.D, etc.
by Edward O. Bragwell, Sr. More and more we are seeing my brethren attaching academic degrees to authors of religious writings and advertising them as speakers at church events. Not only this but often advertisements of church lectures and meetings contain a bio of the speaker’s outstanding accomplishments in the academic and secular fields. Just…
Read MoreMisapplying Scriptures
by Terry W. Benton A common mistake we run into today is taking a promise made to the apostles, commandeering it as a promise to us, and then imagining that the promise applies equally to us. For example, when Jesus promised the apostles that the Holy Spirit would “guide you into all truth” (John 16:13),…
Read MoreSalvation by Grace (Cope)
by James R. Cope via The Preceptor, Vol. 1, No. 12, October, 1952. In Titus 2:11-13 we read: “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…
Read MoreWisdom from Above
by Jefferson David Tant “But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable (easy to be entreated” ASV), full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy” (James 3:17, NASB). Wisdom should be a much-desired quality. We remember when Solomon ascended the throne following his father David, God asked what he would want.…
Read MoreThe Scheme of Redemption in Prophecy
by Bryan Vinson via The Preceptor, Vol. 1, Nos. 2,3,4,5. The Almighty in purposing the redemption of man not only gave expression to that purpose in the form of a promise but subsequently enlarged on it in the form of prophecy. A substantial and highly instructive portion of the Old Testament Scriptures is devoted to this…
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