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Traditional Marriage
by Doy Moyer What bothers me about “traditional” marriage is the terminology in the debate. There is nothing wrong with tradition. Tradition is something established that is handed down through time, and certainly, marriage is that. It is something that is customary, and marriage is surely that, too. But when we place something in the…
Read MoreThe Willful Sin
by Foy E. Wallace, Jr. via Number One Gospel Sermons, pages 133-134. From a sermon, “The Meaning of Faith,” preached for the Nashville Road church, February 1967, brother Wallace was giving a synopsis of the book of Hebrews when he said… [Billy Moore] The following chapters of eight, nine, and ten are new covenant chapters. The…
Read MoreThe Remission of Sins
by J. W. McGarvey Sermons by McGarvey, p. 56-57. The same word in Greek is translated remission that is translated forgiveness. The two English words, remission and forgiveness, are used interchangeably, and they mean the same thing. So then, if you are ever again in any confusion of thought about that somewhat unusual expression, remission…
Read MoreGod and the Concept of Patterns
by Doy Moyer The nature of typology shows that God is a God of patterns. Without even going through a process of trying to “establish” authority, God shows through His overall record that He is a God of patterns. This is evident right from the beginning when God made a pattern for creation that He…
Read MoreBecoming Wise Men
by Steven Harper When Job had suffered some great losses due to the devil’s personal attack on him, we are told “when Job’s three friends heard of all this evil that had come upon him, they came each from his own place, Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite. They made an appointment together…
Read MoreChrist’s Prayer for Unity
by Jefferson David Tant In Christ’s final hours before his crucifixion, we find him in the garden in earnest prayer to the Father. Much of his prayer expressed his concern for his disciples who would be left behind to carry on the mission that Christ had been sent to accomplish. He referred to this in…
Read MoreReflections on the Daily News: Snake Handler Bitten; Dies Without Antidote
by Lewis Willis via Truth Magazine XXI: 17, pp. 264-265, April 28, 1977 DELBARTON, W. VA. (AP) – The snake that bit Curbs Mounts during a church ceremony was a big one. It lest fang marks an inch apart. Mounts’ arm swelled to twice its normal size, but he sought no medical attention before he died…
Read MoreA Savior Who Cares
by Steven Harper When was the last time you took a good look at the night sky and tried to count the stars? Can you still do that? If you live in the city, you most likely are not able to see the night lights as well because of the street lights or reflected light from…
Read MoreScholarly Perversions of the Word
by Eugene W. Clevenger via Preceptor, December 1951 “I know that is what the Bible says alright, but what do the scholars say about it?” I have heard that statement made many times, and it reflects an attitude. There is a widely prevalent idea that the final word to be said about the meaning of any…
Read MoreShould Churches of Christ Observe Passover?
by Mark W.White via Biblical Insights, Vol. 13, No. 1, January 2013 The Jewish Passover usually comes around each year in our month of April. Those who are familiar with Old Testament history understand the significance of this holy day for the Jewish nation. God delivered the children of Israel from their Egyptian bondage through a…
Read MoreProfessional Preachers
by Edward O. Bragwell via Biblical Insights, Vol. 13, No. 1, January 2013 The trend toward developing a “professional clergy” among churches of Christ has been in the making for some time now. More and more, both churches and preachers, have come to view gospel preachers as professionals much like the professions of this world. Churches…
Read MoreJamaica Patois Wisdom – Temptation
by Jefferson David Tant The Jamaican Patois dialect is colorful, unique, and humorous. It is my desire to share some of the philosophy shown in this mix of colorful phrases that are witty as well as thought-provoking. I hope the readers both profit and enjoy. In my quarter-century plus of teaching there, I have come…
Read MoreChrist in Prophecy
by C.G. “Colly” Caldwell via The Preceptor, September 1988 One of the strongest pieces of evidence supporting the Bible is the fulfillment of prophecy by Jesus Christ. The Old Testament was completed in the fifth century B.C. Malachi is usually dated between 444 and 432 B.C., and it is the final message of God until…
Read MoreMetaphors of the Church
by Dennis C. Abernathy via Truth Magazine – January 3, 1980 In our age when the church is thought of as some unimportant, outdated, or take-it-or-leave-it institution, it becomes very important for us to investigate what the Scriptures have to say pertaining to it. It is so important that we stress the beauty of, the wisdom behind,…
Read MoreTerms of Membership
by Irven Lee Truth Magazine – January 3, 1980 The Lord built His church and paid for it with His blood. He is its head and has all authority in it. It is not my church, your church, or our church. It is not ours to plan its mission or work, nor do we enter it…
Read MoreThe Time Given Us
by John R. Gibson In his epic novel depicting a great struggle between good and evil, J.R. R. Tolkien narrates the following conversation about the evil threat of Sauron. ‘I wish it need not have happened in my time,’ said Frodo. ‘So do I, said Gandalf, ‘and so do all who live to see such…
Read MoreThe Christian and Social Media
by David Maxson “Whoever restrains his words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding” (Proverbs 17:27). Like it or not, social media is here to stay. While we shouldn’t overreact to the dangers of this new media, we must not ignore them either. There needs to be more…
Read MoreEverywhere Spoken Against
by Jeffery Kingry If you are doing anything right, you should have caught Satan’s attention by now (Ref. Job 1:6). One of our great blessings is that while our adversary is powerful, he is not God. Satan’s powers are intimidating enough as it is (Matthew 4). It appears that the deceiver goes after people who stand out…
Read MoreJamaica Patois Wisdom – Pride
by Jefferson David Tant The Jamaican Patois dialect is colorful, unique, and humorous. It is my desire to share some of the philosophy shown in this mix of colorful phrases that are witty as well as thought-provoking. I hope the readers both profit and enjoy. In my quarter-century plus of teaching there, I have come…
Read MoreWe Lost the Surprise Somewhere
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton I remember watching Mayberry RFD and related shows most of my childhood. Poor ignorant Gomer Pyle who worked as an auto mechanic was a notable character. But I can still recall my shock when I found out that Jim Nabors, who played Gomer, could sing — not casually, but with a…
Read MoreMajor Problems in Moral Purity
by Leslie Diestelkamp Truth Magazine II:8, pp. 2-3, 21 May 1958 Truth Magazine II:7, pp. 2-3, 23 April 1958 Jesus said, “Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify the Father which is in heaven.” By doing good the Christian bears fruit which, to the people of the world,…
Read MoreThe A.D. 70 Doctrine
by Tommy Thornhill I sincerely believe “The A.D. 70 Doctrine” to be another in a long line of perverted gospels that has plagued the Lord’s church since I began preaching in May 1953. As a young preacher, I never dreamed that disgruntled and false brethren could dream up so many false doctrines. Since that time…
Read MoreTwo Women
by Linda Maydell Sally Sally (not her real name) had just heard the gospel, and she realized that she was not saved! Sally really wanted to be baptized. However, what troubled her was that she first needed to repent (make a commitment in her heart to stop sinning). She knew if she were baptized without…
Read MoreMartignoni – Thrasher Debate on the Pope
John Martignoni, Catholic, and Thomas N. Thrasher, Christian via Meditate on These Things, April 2012 Proposition “The apostle Peter was the first Pope of the Roman Catholic Church.” Affirm: John Martignoni Deny: Thomas N. Thrasher Martignoni’s First Affirmative My task is to argue the affirmative of the proposition: “The apostle Peter was the first Pope of…
Read MoreSelf-Defense and The Use of Force
by Tim Haile The recent escalation of violence and an unprecedented expansion of government power is forcing more and more people to consider the question of self-defense. Is it right to use physical or lethal force to protect oneself or others? The question is not new. Cycles of controversy over the question can be traced…
Read MoreHow Does the Holy Spirit Lead?
by Herschel E. Patton via Guardian of Truth XXXV: 8, pp. 237, 239, April 14, 1991 Obviously, the Holy Spirit does lead certain ones. “Sons of God” are thus led. “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God” (Romans 8:14). Jesus was “led up of the Spirit” into…
Read MoreTips in Searching for a Quality Made Bible
by Wayne Goforth The past week I have been searching for a new Bible. I’m really tired of replacing one every 4-5 years, even when they are warranted for life, so I’ve been researching Bible construction. I already knew I wanted a KJV and NKJV, but the question was about the construction quality. After spending…
Read MoreDealing with the Effects of Pre-Marital Sex
by David and Flora Tant This is an important subject — especially today. Young people (and older folks, too) are bombarded with the world’s (Satan’s) standards of morality, or immorality. The values and moral standards that were endorsed by most Americans in years past are now ridiculed and/or ignored by many. Teaching on sexual purity…
Read MoreThe Fingerprints of God
by Doug Cyrus via Think on These Things If a person’s fingerprints are found on an object you know the person has touched that object, you have detected their presence. It is interesting how God reveals His presence in the Bible by hiding information that obviously has His fingerprints all over it. Proverbs 25:2 says: “It…
Read MoreLearning to Think for Ourselves
by Rick Liggin via Think on These Things If you really want to grow up in Christ, then you’re going to have to learn to think for yourself! You’re going to have to come to understand the word of God … for yourself and develop your own faith, a faith that will motivate you to use…
Read MoreThe Poor Have the Gospel Preached to Them
by Andy Sochor The common perception by people – both within and outside of the religious world – is that churches are charitable organizations designed to help the poor. Denominational churches spend much time, energy, and money helping the poor. Those who are in need (or claim to be in need) often visit churches seeking…
Read MoreDo Not Grow Weary
by Joel Moore It was 2007 and I was in a very rural part of the southernmost state of Mexico: Chiapas. My dad and I had been in the car all day (or, at least, what seemed like all day), had preached at two churches, and spent time with the Christians in each place. Finally,…
Read MoreThe Importance of a Biblical Worldview
by Allan Turner All of us see ourselves and our world through a particular set of beliefs, attitudes, and values. These operate as a filter or grid through which we process all information. For the Christian, this filter or grid is shaped by the truths taught in the Bible. The Bible, of course, has a…
Read MoreHigher Percentage of Homosexuals Among Young Adults Than Seniors: What Does This Mean?
by Andy Sochor via Plain Bible Teaching As time goes on, homosexuality is increasingly becoming more accepted in our society. As it becomes more accepted, it will become more common. A recent Gallup survey found that 3.4% of adults in the United States identified themselves as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender. The survey also found an interesting…
Read MoreGood Faith Desire
by Sam Stinson “For, ‘Yet a little while, and the coming one will come and will not delay; but my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him.’ But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have…
Read MoreWorship as Entertainment
by Mark Roberts via Abundant Life Romans 1 challenges us with its chilling words “they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man” (vv. 22-23). Man has the propensity to change God and the worship of God into what he desires. Instead of doing what the Lord…
Read MoreDid the Church Come Together for a Common Meal in Acts 20?
by Greg Gwin A question has been asked about ‘eating’ in Acts 20:6-11: “And we sailed away from Philippi after the days of unleavened bread, and came unto them to Troas in five days; where we abode seven days. And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread,…
Read MoreConversions from a Funeral Sermon
by Etim Abidiak via For a Better Understanding, Vol. 50, No. 5, September / October 2012 Four weeks ago, I preached at the funeral of a late brother who served the Nigeria Police and was of the rank of Inspector. His name was Mbre Jack. His funeral was attended by many policemen and women such as…
Read MoreLiving With Guilt
by Dan Gatlin Do different sins carry different consequences? Well, that depends on how we look at it. From a spiritual perspective, the answer is no. The Bible tells us that all sin separates us from God (Isaiah 59:1-2). Though man distinguishes between “big sins” and “little sins,” the New Testament does not. James writes,…
Read MoreWhy I Believe in Jesus Christ
by Bobby Witherington via Truth Magazine Vol. XLIV: 7 p3, April 6, 2000 More Than Just A Historical Being The fact that a man called “Jesus of Nazareth” actually lived upon this earth and died upon a cross is a matter of historical record. If we can believe that such men as George Washington, Abraham…
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