Article
Did 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…
Read MoreJesus Is God!
by Harry L. Lewis It seems rather superfluous for a gospel preacher to even have to make a statement like our headline, but if I am to believe what I read, there are those who profess to be Christians who do not believe it. This is even true, I am told, of some who are…
Read MoreJesus’ Deity While on Earth
by Richard Thetford The nature of Jesus Christ in the flesh has been debated since early times in the church. Varying ideas have been suggested. One of which is that Jesus, while on earth was just a man, an ordinary man like you and me. Such a unique thing as “God in the flesh” causes…
Read MoreCarnal Appeals
by Greg Gwin Free pizza, clowns, hot air balloon rides … you name it, and some religious group has tried it as a scheme to draw folks to their services. These things are fun! Who wouldn’t like to play ball, eat good food, and be entertained? But, here’s the problem — these things all appeal…
Read MoreBelieving the Bible’s Creation Account is Called “Pagan Superstition”
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton “For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day” (Exodus 20:11). WorldNetDaily released an article on May 6, 2006, titled “Bible literalism ‘pagan superstition’?” In it are quotes from a Vatican astronomer, Guy Consolmagno. For…
Read MoreBefore You Click “Forward”
by Bryan Matthew Dockens Before forwarding that next e-mail, consider the following: Is It Morally Correct? Inasmuch as “A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance” (Proverbs 15:13), it is nice to send and receive jokes and humorous stories, but care must be exercised in doing so. The Scriptures describe “coarse jesting” as behavior that should…
Read MoreThe Architect’s Blueprint
by Jefferson David Tant Let’s say that you want to build a house, so you hire an architect to draw up plans according to your wishes. A builder is then contracted to construct the home as per the architect’s blueprints. But something happens along the way, as the builder decides he has his own preferences,…
Read MoreAnachronism?
by Steven Harper This past week, I got to witness a large-scale display of anachronous events near the town of Florence as the Society for Creative Anachronism [SCA] put on Estrella War XXIII. [There’s humor in that name if you do a little research.] We went down with several other families from my hometown of…
Read MoreAm I My Brother’s Keeper?
by Steven Harper You may be familiar with the story in which the title for today’s article was spoken, and probably just as familiar with its popular usage today. In the Bible story, Cain had killed his brother Abel and God said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” (Genesis 4:9). Cain’s reply was this familiar statement and question: “I…
Read MoreAccidents Don’t Happen
by Kent Heaton “Morning Afters Can Be Tough” the poster proclaims. The American College of Obstetricians & Gynecology announced a new plan to help women who do not want to become pregnant following a tryst with a lover with a drug called the “Morning After Pill.” A poster with the aforementioned heading has a cup…
Read MoreBy One Spirit … Baptized Into One Body
by Terry W. Benton “For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body–whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free–and have all been made to drink into one Spirit” (I Corinthains 12:13). What does “by one Spirit” mean? The Holy Spirit is the element we are immersed in? Holy Spirit is the agency…
Read MoreThe Link Between Ungodly Entertainment and Fornication
by David Dann via Truth Magazine, Vol. 52, No. 2, Feb. 2008. The apostle Paul warned the young man, Timothy, saying, “Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart” (II Timothy 2:22). It is obvious from Paul’s instruction that in order to…
Read MoreThe Other Sheep of John 10:16
by Matt Allen via The Jackson Drive Reporter, Sept. 6, 2009. John 10:16 has served as a major claim for the legitimacy of Mormon teaching for many years. Upon reading the passage of Scripture — by itself — it first appears that they (Mormons) could have a point. “And other sheep I have which are not…
Read MoreAll the Members Do Not Have the Same Function
by Bryan Matthew Dockens King David was told by the Almighty, “Whereas it was in your heart to build a temple for My name, you did well that it was in your heart. Nevertheless you shall not build the temple, but your son who will come from your body, he shall build the temple for…
Read MoreTotal Hereditary Depravity and Ezekiel 18:20
by Bryan Sharp “The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not bear the guilt of the father, nor the father bear the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself” (Ezekiel 18:20). Guilt is never transferred from one…
Read MoreAffair-Proofing Your Marriage
by Mark Broyles via Biblical Insights, Vol. 7, No. 1, January 2007 The prevalence of infidelity in marriage is staggering. If it was only a problem in the lives of those apart from God it would still be discouraging, but the truth is that the amount of marriages among our brethren that have been rocked by…
Read MoreDeath Bed Repentance
by David J. Riggs A neighbor lady who had become a rather close friend to my wife, came into our home and said, “Do you believe in death-bed repentance?” This was not the first time I had been required to give an answer on this topic. My answer is, “I believe in one kind of…
Read MoreWrong About the Grand Canyon
by Kyle Butt, M.A. via Apologetics Press For many years, awe-stricken tourists to the Grand Canyon have been fed a steady stream of uniformitarian propaganda designed to teach that the amazing chasm took six million years to form. Uniformitarian geologists, however, recently concluded that the “traditional” age of six million years has been incorrect. In fact,…
Read MoreWhy Do “Churches of Christ” Differ so Widely?
by Sewell Hall via Biblical Insights, February 2012 A sign reading “Church of Christ” in front of a building tells you very little these days. Most any doctrine or practice may be found inside. This is frustrating to many people. Outsiders make fun of the situation, saying, “You preach unity but you are the most divided…
Read MoreMission Possible: Holiness
by Eric Reynolds via Biblical Insights, December 2012 Are you living in holiness? “As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy” (I…
Read MoreA History of Our Hymnbooks
by Wayne S. Walker originally published in Faith and Facts, October 1999 Back in the very late 1700s and early 1800s, the conditions in this new nation appeared just right for a number of different men from different denominational backgrounds in different parts of the country to begin calling for a return to New Testament…
Read MoreWhat Will Happen on Judgment Day?
by Ricky Jenkins via Gospel Power, Vol. 16, No. 7, Feb. 15, 2009. “The deeds we do, the words we say, into the still air they seem too fleet, we count them ever past; but they shall last, in the dread judgment they and we shall meet” (John Keeble). On judgment day the Lord shall…
Read MoreA Common Problem
by Steve Klein Do you tend to have problems that no one else has? If so, this article is for you. And it might surprise you to learn that I know what your problem is. Your problem is that you think your problems are unique, and your perspective is preventing you from getting the help…
Read MoreYour Parents Can’t Make You Go to Heaven!
by Ted J. Clarke One of the greatest miseries of being a child is being made to do things that a child does not want to do. Eating vegetables, brushing teeth, taking a bath, cleaning one’s room, going to Aunt June’s, going to school, attending worship and Bible study — these all rate high on…
Read MoreA Review of Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs
by Wayne Walker Wolfgang, Steve, general editor. Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs (published in 2012 by Sumphonia Productions LLC, 41601 Epping Green Sq., Aldie, VA 20105). A new hymnbook has been published this year. It is intended primarily for use in Churches of Christ but could be used by anyone, primarily those who still prefer…
Read More70 A.D. ‘ism and the Date of Revelation
by Carl A. Allen The doctrine of “70 A.D.’ism” demands that all the writings of the New Testament books be before 70 A.D. There is no way the books could be after that date. Their doctrine holds that the “Second Coming of Christ” occurred in 70 A.D. If there are books after 70 A.D. that…
Read MoreLearning from the History of the Instrumental Music Controversy Among Brethren
by Mark Roberts Could one issue really divide brethren who claimed allegiance to the idea of just going by the Bible, doing Bible things in Bible ways, and following the Bible alone? As the Civil War finally came to its end and life began to return to normal in the United States some brethren actually…
Read MoreThey Know It Is Wrong, But They Don’t Care
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton An article appeared in the newspaper reporting on a study by Bruce Bartholow at the University of Missouri-Columbia. While we all know that alcohol changes a person’s behavior this study shows that those under the influence of alcohol realize that they are making mistakes, but they just don’t care. Participants in…
Read MoreGluttony (Jacobs)
by Jarrod Jacobs The subject of gluttony is misunderstood by many people. Sometimes, during the Thanksgiving holiday, or after some big meal, someone will jokingly say, “I hope the preacher doesn’t preach on gluttony.” At other times, I have been accused of “not preaching on gluttony” or “not condemning gluttony” when this is not the…
Read MoreAn Eye for an Eye and a Tooth for a Tooth
by Steve Dewhurst Such is modern man’s ignorance of God’s word, as well as His justice and mercy, that we often misunderstand the simplest Bible expressions and concepts. For example, the age-old principle of justice contained in the phrase “an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth” is frequently seen as a…
Read MoreBelief, Baptism, and Signs Following – Still Today?
by Larry Ray Hafley Here is the text of Mark 16:15-20: “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe; In…
Read MoreMiraculous Gifts as They Are Designated in the Scriptures
by Gilbert Alexander Jesus touched the eyes of a blind man and he saw Mark 8:22-25 Miraculous gifts, or spiritual gifts, as they are designated in the Scriptures were given to the apostles for specific purposes. They were given directly to the apostles when the apostles received the baptism of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost…
Read MoreTotal Depravity or Total Inability
by Terry W. Benton Calvinism is commonly summarized and remembered by the use of an acrostic formula using the word TULIP. The first letter stands for “Total Depravity” or “Total Spiritual Inability”. Let me let a Calvinist explain what is meant by this term. “Total depravity is a concept that everyone including the elect and…
Read MoreChurch Autonomy
by Robert Turner “Autonomy” is a compound word, composed of autos, meaning “self,” and nomos, meaning “law.” An ordinary dictionary will tell us the word means “self-ruled,” so that an autonomous church is “self-governed, without outside control.” There are those who reject the concept of God and revelation, saying ultimate authority is in man. To…
Read MoreIs It a Sin to Take Medicine? — to Consult a Doctor?
by Bill Crews via Guardian of Truth XXXV: 11, pp. 321, 343-344, June 6, 1991 Some churches have been in the news lately. These are those who take the position that to treat our physical illnesses in any other way than faith in God and prayer to God is wrong and sinful. They think it a…
Read MoreHow May We Know the Bible is of God?
by Abraham Smith Can you trust your Bible? Is the Bible a book of God or a book of man? If we doubt the Bible’s trustworthiness, we lose it as: an infallible standard of truth; an authoritative basis for obedience or hope; “living and powerful, sharper than any two-edged sword” (Hebrews 4:12); and as a…
Read MoreControlling Our Temper
by R. J. Evans Brother John Clark once related a story about a woman who told a preacher she had a bad temper, but that it was over in a minute. “So is a shotgun blast, but it blows everything to pieces,” was the preacher’s reply. And far too many of us who are Christians…
Read More