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No Longer “Living in Sin”
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Sometimes you find interesting coincidences in the paper. One article brings up a question and another, unrelated one, supplies the answer. Recently I spotted an article in the June 7, 1995 edition of the Omaha World-Herald that shows the birthrate of children born to unwed mothers has increased 54 percent from…
Read MoreDoes One Have a Right to His Own Belief?
by Eugene W. Clevenger via The Preceptor, Vol. 1, No. 6, April 1952. A question that we often hear asked is, Does every person have a right to his own belief? I cannot answer that question honestly and completely with a simple “Yes” or “No”, because to me the answer is both “Yes” and “No.” Looking…
Read MoreHow Do They Do That?
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton You watch as the magician waves his hands and mutters mysterious words. Suddenly, the handkerchief he was holding becomes a dove. You know it is a trick, but you wonder how he did it. You read yet another account of a con man taking the money of several people. The lies…
Read MoreThe Ruse of the Rapture
by Dudley Ross Spears Maybe you have seen the bumper sticker that reads, “In case the Rapture occurs, this car will be driverless.” With tensions building in the Middle East, expectations are being sharpened in those who believe that the Rapture is about to take place. The Rapture is an intriguing topic and we will…
Read MorePeople Love To Have It So: The Rapture
by Gary McDade Human nature has changed very little since Bible times as is evidenced by comparing a statement in the Book of Jeremiah with a seemingly unabated infatuation with a contrived doctrine commonly known as “the Rapture.” In the sixth century BC Jeremiah said, “A wonderful and horrible thing is committed in the land;…
Read MoreWhat Is the Rapture?
by V. Glenn McCoy A young Christian mother recently came into my office with her two children and said, “Will you please explain to my children what the ‘Rapture’ is?” Her children had been exposed to the “Rapture” through some of their friends and they were left confused. Most of us have seen bumper…
Read MoreDivisions Must Come
David Lipscomb via The Gospel Advocate, September 4, 1941 Division in the churches is painful. It wrings the heart with anguish. But God asked: “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” (Amos 3:3). This is a strange declaration that they cannot. It is true as applied to both God and man. Can you walk with…
Read MoreDealing with Difficult Brethren
by W. Frank Walton This is a chapter from an upcoming book, “Behind the Preacher’s Door.” The book deals with challenges that preachers face, with practical, scriptural solutions in doing the work of an evangelist. “I have been…in danger of false brethren” (II Corinthians 11:26). The apostle Paul faced some difficult brethren, which pained his life.…
Read MoreThe Deadly Danger of Indecision
by Thomas Thornhill If someone were to ask me what is the most discouraging thing I have encountered as a preacher I would reply, “The deadly danger of indecision.” Not only preachers but any person who has spent time trying to teach the word of God to a lost soul knows just what I am…
Read MoreCircular Reasoning in the Book of Mormon
by Jon Gary Williams The book of Mormon closes with an appeal to pray to God asking Him to reveal that the book is true. An assurance is then given that if one is “sincere” God will “manifest” that it is true (see Moroni 10:4). However, this is circular reasoning. First, after assuming (expecting) the…
Read MoreThe Church Will Never Be the Same
by Bob Plunket via The Sower, Vol. 54, No. 3, May/June 2009. Several years ago, Time Magazine carried an article, with the caption, “The Church Will Never Be The Same,” because, they say, “The baby boomers are coming back to church.” The article said among other things, “These returnees are described as traveling from church…
Read MoreThe Christian’s Growth in the Lord
by Richard Thetford Once an individual puts on Christ in baptism, they should be determined to please God in all aspects of their life. But before one can begin to grow, one must first possess an attitude that says; “I want to grow as a Christian in order to be pleasing to God.” We are…
Read MoreChristians and Christmas
by Ethan R. Longhenry It’s that time of year again: the weather is getting cold, snow is beginning to fall, and we are constantly bombarded by retail stores and their marketing blitzes. Christmastime is upon us yet again, and every year it seems more commercialized, more cutthroat, and less about family and togetherness. Many attempts…
Read MoreCan Satan Read My Mind?
by Mark N. Posey Question: Can Satan read my mind and know what I’m thinking? Is this how he tempts me with specific things that are only unique to me? Answer: There is no scripture that indicates that Satan can read our minds and know what we are thinking. Why? First, Satan is a created being,…
Read MoreThe Buzzard, Bat, and Bumblebee
Author Unknown BUZZARD If you put a buzzard in a pen that is 6 feet by 8 feet and is entirely open at the top, the bird, in spite of its ability to fly, will be an absolute prisoner. The reason is that a buzzard always begins a flight from the ground with a run…
Read MoreThe Book of Lamentations
by Philip North This book, believed to be written by the prophet Jeremiah between 586 and 585 B.C., is centered around the aftermath of the first destruction of Jerusalem, due to Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon. Jeremiah had prophesied of Jerusalem’s destruction for forty years before it finally took place. Since Jeremiah is known as “the…
Read MoreThe Consequence of Premillennialism
by Hoyt H. Houchen Guardian of Truth Magazine XXVI: 2, pp. 18-20, January 14, 1982 There are different kinds of premillennialists, but whether they be historic or dispensational in their views, all of them agree that after the second coming of Christ, He will reign upon this earth for one thousand years before the final…
Read MoreThe Thousand Year Reign
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Many elaborate theories have been based on Revelation 20:4-6. Some teach that at his second coming the Christ will set up a kingdom here on earth. To help him administer this new kingdom, Christians from the early church will be raised to rule with him. After a peaceful reign that lasts a…
Read MoreAn Overview of Premillennial Theories
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton When dealing with the second coming of Jesus Christ, you will find a wide variety of theories floating about the world. The vast majority of them are simply strange fantasies that have little to do with the teaching of the Bible. Yet, because the myths are repeated many times over, people…
Read MoreThe Bias Toward Evolution
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton An article appeared in the January 14, 2005, edition of the Omaha World-Herald announcing that a judge in Georgia has ordered the removal of a sticker from a school’s biology textbooks. The sticker reads: “This textbook contains material on evolution. Evolution is a theory, not a fact, regarding the origin of…
Read MoreBe on the Alert (Article)
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton The world is filled with corrupted views of Christianity. Despite the Lord’s desire that his followers would be one (John 17:22), we find thousands of denominations. Oneness cannot be obtained by teaching different beliefs and then stating the differences really do not matter to God. God has already told us His…
Read MoreAppropriate Behavior for the Lord’s People
by Ron Drumm Are you amazed at the bazaar things that people do? I am! But, you can be sure that others look at us, and think we are doing bazaar things as Christians. In fact, many of the views we take and uphold from the Scriptures cause people of the world to say some…
Read MoreAnything to Make a Point
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton An old friend of mine, with whom I have had an ongoing debate concerning the necessity of baptism, found a reference that he felt proved that baptism occurs after salvation. The book is The Immerser: John the Baptist, by Joan Taylor, published by Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1997. In the…
Read MoreThe 100-Minute Bible? Wait a Minute!
by Joe R. Price A new version of the Bible, The 100-Minute Bible, was unveiled on Wednesday in London, England. The Rev. Michael Hinton of the Church of England is its author. Here are some descriptions of it from its author and publisher (100-Minute Press), along with some analysis from the complete Bible. “…It summarizes…
Read MoreFear of the Lord
by Randy Blackaby Guardian of Truth Volume 27: Number 4, pp. 118-119, February 17, 1983 Fear is one of those dichotomies of scriptural teaching. We are told, “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man” (Ecclesiastes 12:13). But we also…
Read MoreCoed Slumber Parties?
by George Hutto That’s the title of a recent article in the teen section of the local paper, (Times Daily, Florence, AL, June 1, 2005, p. 6e). “Innocent fun or danger zone?” is the subtitle. The simple asking of the question is disturbing. In this article the author, Helena Ollviero from Cox News Service quotes…
Read MoreCareful What You Say (Article)
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Have you paid close attention to your speech recently? Many of us say things that should embarrass us if we truly understood what we said. The words that we chose to express ourselves are important. According to Matthew 12:32-37, we will give an account to God for every idle word that we…
Read MoreThe Broadening Definition of Racism
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton During the week leading up to the observance of the government’s Martin Luther King Day, the local paper heralded the formation of a new group called Churches Uniting in Christ. Nine denominations joined to campaign against racism. The very development of these organizations which tie denominations together is fascinating, especially when…
Read MoreSaving Our Own
by Connie W. Adams Over the years brethren have asked me a question which has always amazed me. Upon returning from a gospel meeting and reporting that so many obeyed the gospel, someone has been sure to ask “Were they just all young people?” Or “Were they just children of Christians?” Just young people? Just…
Read MoreThe Living Redeemer (Hamilton)
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton When we find ourselves in difficult situations, most of us turn to our families to help extract us out of our tight spot. Such aid between family members is expected by God. “But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied…
Read MoreMust a Preacher Move?
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Over the years, I have heard various individuals argue against preachers being located in a particular area and working with one congregation. Typically, they will point out that Paul, and those with him, worked with many congregations, moving from city to city. In their view, elders should do the bulk of…
Read MoreDon’t “Reverend” Me — It’s Forbidden!
by Hayse Reneau The English word ‘Reverend’ is used but once in our Bible; and it references, The Creator, Jehovah God (Psalms 111:9.) “He sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant for ever: holy and reverend is his name.” Anyone who accepts this title is filled with unholy pride or is ignorant…
Read MoreNotes on Husbands
I Corinthians 7:2-5 Ephesians 5:25-33 Colossians 3:19 I Timothy 3:2-5 I Timothy 3:12 Titus 1:6 I Peter 3:7
Read MoreWe Are Simply Christians Without Being Members of Any Denomination. You Can Be Too!
by Dale Smelser We read with interest the reports on every hand of the growing disenchantment with present religious forms which originated in the middle ages and have become meaningless. We hear of displeasure with denominational structures and their pronouncements which reflect only the preferences of an influential elite, ignoring the convictions of the rank…
Read MoreWhat if a man feels he cannot wait to have sex?
Question: What if a man cannot wait? What if a man really wants to have sex with a girl? What should the man do? Answer: “Now concerning the things of which you wrote to me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman. Nevertheless, because of sexual immorality, let each man have…
Read MoreWhy I Left the Baptist Church ()
via Biblical Insights, April 2005, pp 20,21 There’s a proverb that says, “A wise man learned from the mistakes of others; a fool learns only from his own.” When asked to prepare a short treatise on my conversion, I jumped at the opportunity to do so. There was a time in my life when I was…
Read MoreOvercoming Fear
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Reading: II Kings 6:8-23 It seems wherever we turn, there is something to fear. Some people are afraid of snakes or spiders. Others fear what will happen to the stock market. Instead of being debilitated by our fears, we need to learn how to continue to function despite our fears. Finances Many…
Read MoreWhy Four Gospels?
by Shane Carrington “Take your child to work day.” What a great idea! How many young people see Dad as a father, yard-mower, car-washer, and neighbor, but never see him in his role as employee? Truthfully, we all take on different jobs that say many things about who we are. Just viewing one facet of…
Read MoreWhy Are So Many Afraid to Call a Dog – “A DOG”?
by Brian A. Yeager When one reads of false brethren and those teaching errors (false teachers/prophets) throughout the word of God you find that they were labeled, at times, in colorful ways. Of the watchman in Israel, Isaiah penned the following: “His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they…
Read MoreWhere Are the Atheists?
by Billy Norris via Gospel Guide; Nov. 1995; Vol. 27, No. 10. An atheist is one who believes that there is no God. This is strange because there is so much evidence of the existence of God. One who denies the existence of God cannot deny the existence of the physical universe. Is it a product…
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