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A Thought on Business Meetings and Elderships
by Bill Jackson In any situation involving men laboring together, some decisions are going to have to be made and some course of action must be decided upon by someone if any good product is obtained. In the congregations of God, the thousand-and-one details wherein the work of the congregations goes forward must be decided…
Read MoreThey Think It Strange
by Terry W. Benton For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles– when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries. In regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking…
Read MoreThese Six Things the LORD Hates
by Tanner Campbell “These six things the LORD hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him: A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood, A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that are swift in running to evil, A false witness who speaks lies, And one who sows discord among brethren” (Proverbs…
Read MoreThere Is a Difference
by Billy Moore “My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither your ways my ways, saith the Lord” (Isaiah 55:8), so, there is a difference! There is a difference between Serving God and Serving Sin, between Walking by Faith and Walking by Sight, and between God’s Ways and Our Ways. And this difference must make a…
Read MoreHow to Know What God Wants Me to Do
by Greg Gwin We all face important decisions. These decisions will often have a great impact on us and our families. It may be a question about what job to take, or where to live, or what school to attend, etc. What should we do? Does God offer any help or guidance in making such…
Read MoreAn Open Door to Where?
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton The presiding bishop of the Episcopal denomination in the United States was in town this weekend. Katharine Jefferts Schori’s message throughout the day was an emphasis on an “open and not dogmatic” faith. “‘I read the Gospel to say that Jesus invited everybody into His community,’ she said in an interview.…
Read MoreGrandpa, Tell me ‘Bout the Good Old Days
by Jefferson David Tant In 1986, Jamie O’Hara wrote a hit song with the above title. It was popularized by Naomi and Wynona Judd. Allow me to be nostalgic as I cite the words with a few comments. (If you don’t know the song, you can Google it.) “Grandpa, tell me ’bout the good old…
Read MoreShe Changed My Life
by Marlon Ruck as told to Wilson Adams via Biblical Insights, Volume 9, Number 6, June 2009 Marlon was a twenty-four-year-old Catholic, home from the military, and living in Toledo, Ohio; Delores was eighteen, beautiful, and a member of the Lord’s church. “I was crazy about her from the beginning and asked her to marry me…
Read MoreYe Are Gods
by Joe R. Price via Guardian of Truth XL: 3 p. 6-7, February 1, 1996 In the last year of Jesus’ life, during the Feast of Dedication (present-day Hanukkah), unbelieving individuals confronted him and demanded of him a plain declaration that he was the Christ (John 10:22-24). Like ravenous wolves, the Jewish rulers encircled him, ready to…
Read MoreSand and Pearls
by Netagene Kirkpatrick, August 18, 2009 If God can take a grain of sand And change it to a pearl – Some tiny lifeless silicone He made when He made the world, Then why don’t you understand the thought That you, a living soul Might change from whatever sad state you’re in, If you’ll let Him…
Read MoreReligion and War
by Doy Moyer “If religion is so great, why are religions responsible for so much war?” First, this type of statement assumes that all religions are essentially the same. They aren’t. Some religions actively teach peace. Biblical Christianity (not the perverted forms) is one of them. Second, this assumes that everyone claiming a religion is…
Read More“No Such Custom”: An Exposition of I Corinthians 11:2-16
by Bruce Terry Second Edition Christian Messenger Publishers Montezuma Creek, Utah 84534-0220 Published 1983 Foreword Bruce Terry’s exegesis of I Corinthians 11:2-16 is the most thorough and the most objective study of the covering that has come to my attention. Every Christian, man and woman, should read it carefully. I have great respect for Bruce Terry…
Read MoreA Prosperous Journey
by Walton Weaver via Truth Magazine Vol. XLIV: 10 p19 May 18, 2000 Paul had a great desire to go to Rome. He knew however that if such an opportunity presented itself, God would have to open up the way. His prayer that God might do this for him is given to us in Romans 1:10: “Making…
Read MoreThe Promise and the Law
by Homer Hailey via The Preceptor, Vol. 1, No. 7, May 1952. In his letter to the Galatians, Paul began his defense of the truth he preached by showing that the gospel is one gospel and that any deviation from it is a perversion of the gospel and not another gospel. This convicts every sectarian today…
Read MoreProblems with Assigning Motive
by Sam Stinson “For our appeal does not spring from error or impurity or any attempt to deceive, but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts” (I Thessalonians, 2:3-4). Why does Paul elaborate…
Read MorePreacher Pitfalls: An Article for Young Preachers
by Edward O. Bragwell, Sr. The Reflector – August 2009 via Ed’s Sermons and Things Paul references Isaiah in declaring that the feet of those that preach the gospel are beautiful (Romans 10:15; Isaiah 52:7). I know of no higher calling for a young man to pursue than that of preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. While…
Read MoreModel or Mission?
by Jefferson David Tant The assembly of people that began on the Pentecost following Christ’s resurrection serves as a model for us, even in the 21st Century. We follow the patterns that were set up by the early church in that we respect the way they understood the authority that governed them. We observe how…
Read MoreA Pattern of Departure from God
by Clem Thurman via Gospel Minutes, Vol. 58, No. 51, Dec. 18, 2009. Jeremiah the “weeping prophet,” was sent to warn God’s people to return to the Lord. His pleas to them, his tears for their rebellion, fill the books of Jeremiah and Lamentations. He writes that Israel had forgotten the Lord (Jeremiah 2:32), they…
Read MoreIs “Once Saved — Always Saved” a Bible Doctrine?
by Jefferson David Tant One of the more popular doctrines of certain denominations is that of “once saved—always saved.” The idea is that once you have accepted Christ and had your sins taken away, you can never be lost, no matter what you do. The Standard Manual for Baptist Churches states, “We believe the Scriptures teach…
Read MoreOur Own Yard
by Shane Williams via The Lilbourn Light, Vol. 10, No. 1, May 2009. What would you think of a business establishment if you passed by every day and saw the same thing: grass needing to be mowed, weeds taking over, the color is not a uniform green, and maybe there were dead spots scattered about?…
Read MoreOlder and Improved?
by Shane Williams in The Lilbourn Light, Vol. 10, No. 7, Nov. 2009. We’ve all heard television commercials that tell us about a product that’s “new and improved.” This is in contrast to an older and therefore inferior product. At least that is what they are hoping will cause you to buy the “new” item. No…
Read MoreObeying the Lord
by Clem Thurman via Gospel Minutes, Vol. 58, No. 8, Feb. 20, 2009. Question: How can one talk about “obeying the Lord” in the light of what is said in Titus 3:5 and Ephesians 2:8? Answer: First, let us notice what these two passages say: “Not by works done in righteousness, which we did ourselves, but according to…
Read MoreNew and Improved Religion
by Carey Scott It is amazing that just about every product that has ever been sold has evolved into a more new and improved product. The marketing firms have convinced the manufacturers that unless they have new and improved printed on their products; they will not sell as many. But what does new and improved…
Read MoreThe Works of the Flesh: Murder – Real and Imagined
by Kent Heaton The blood of Abel (Genesis 4) still cries through the ages of centuries as a sad reminder of man’s inhumanity to man. The early world was destroyed because “every intent of the thoughts of [man] was only evil continually” (Genesis 6:5) as men filled with rage against their fellow man shed man’s…
Read MoreModern Versions and Perversions
by Joe R. Price There are over 450 versions of the Bible in English alone. New versions continue to be published, not all of which have as their primary interest that of being a precise translation of the ancient manuscripts. In fact, very few have that as their intended purpose. The September 25, 1995 issue…
Read MoreThe Miracle of Creation: A Stronghold for Believers
by George Hutto via Tidings, Vol. 24, No. 11, Nov. 2009. Moses laid the foundation for belief in God with the first ten words in the Bible: “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” Other miracles are significant, but the miracle of creation tells us our origin, gives reason for believing in…
Read MoreOffering an Invitation
by James Shewmaker We may offer encouragement at any time to respond to the summons of Jesus, but the summons belongs to Him and not us. If a person expresses a desire to respond to the Savior’s summons, I do not wait till the end of services. For example, a family contacted me about 40…
Read MoreLove or Legalism?
by Steven F. Deaton When we insist men must adhere strictly to the commandments of God, is it love or legalism? Men say it is legalism. They say, “We should obey a Savior, not a system.” Or, “Give me the man, not a plan.” Their idea is that to admit the existence of a law…
Read MoreThe Lord’s Church Is Magnificent
by Jim Ward via the Lost River Bulletin, Vol. 59, No. 2, Feb. 2009. The term church occurs nine times in the book of Ephesians with nine additional references to the church using the term body, and one each using household of God and temple, it is apparent that this is one of Paul’s major…
Read MoreLike Arrows
by Steve Higginbotham via Bulletin Briefs, Vol. 12, No. 4, April 2009. In Psalms 127:4, the inspired text has a fascinating comparison. Here it is written, “Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are children of one’s youth.” From this simple simile, several significant and sobering truths shine forth. Like arrows, children need…
Read MoreLet Us Make Man in Our Image: Genesis 1:26-27
by Doy Moyer via Gospel Guide; Nov., 1995; Vol. 27, No. 10. Man, which includes male and female, was created “in the image of God.” This makes man unique among all creation. Man is not just another animal. He is a being specially created after God’s own image. This is why animal life is not…
Read MoreLessons from Genealogy
The “begots” and “begats” of the Bible can be laborious at times and difficult to pronounce. Often throughout the scriptures, time is devoted to accounting for the family lines of thousands of people. The chronology of these individuals is important for two reasons: The nation of Israel was confirmed through the lineage of Abraham (Genesis…
Read MoreLeprosy!
by Paul Williams The repulsive disease of leprosy has a strange fascination. God’s law for Israel described its symptoms in detail and gave minute instructions to the priest for its diagnosis. This law also said, “As for the leper who has the infection, his clothes shall be torn, and the hair of his head shall…
Read MoreLearning to Let Go
by Matt Allen via The Jackson Drive Reporter, June 28, 2009. We are first introduced to Paul at the end of Acts 7. In a few words there, and a short collection of verses in chapters 8 and 9, we get a brief glimpse into his life before coming to Christ. In Philippians, Paul would…
Read MoreThe Key to Better Marriages
by Edwin L. Crozier via Gospel Power, Vol. 16, No. 34, August 23, 2009. One thing I have learned about the Bible and marriage is that some of the passages that will help us the most in our marriage were not written specifically about marriage. The passage that will help our marriages (and all other…
Read MoreIf He is Wrong, What Does the Christian Miss?
by Ancil Jenkins Photo by bruce mars on Unsplash Doubt is a subtle demon. It creeps in at times of distress, pain, and fear. Doubting is not sinful; failing to act on doubts is. Honesty demands an examination and a resolution of doubts. As one examines doubts, his heart is comforted. The truth will silence doubts or will…
Read MoreIt’s Your Life, You Know
by Dee Bowman via The Jackson Drive Reporter, Nov. 8, 2009. Life is filled with perplexities and puzzlements of various sorts. It has odd turns: seemingly insignificant things sometimes turn out to be terribly significant; things that aren’t supposed to work out, but sometimes do; and things that seemingly should work out, but don’t. Life is…
Read MoreIs There Real Fire in Hell?
by Clem Thurman via Gospel Minutes, Vol. 58, No. 34, Aug. 21, 2009. Question: Is there real fire in hell where the wicked shall go to be punished after this life is over? Answer: In answering this question, let us look at a couple of passages of Scripture. In Matthew 25:31-46, Jesus pictures the final…
Read MoreIs the Condemnation of Homosexuality Universally Immoral?
by Doy Moyer I know. Sounds like an odd question, but it’s one posed to an atheist recently based on all the condemnation of those who believe homosexual practice is sinful. He was objecting to the idea of universal, objective morality. In the process of this, he asked what kind of “objective morality” condemns homosexual…
Read MoreIs That What You Meant to Say?
by Steve Klein via The Bulletin of the Church of Christ at New Georgia, March 29, 2009 An insurance agent was writing a policy for a cowboy. “Have you ever had any accidents?” the agent asked. “No, not really,” replied the cowboy. “A horse threw me off and kicked me in the ribs once, and…
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