God Needs More Foot Soldiers

by Thomas Thornhill At this time our nation is in a conflict taking place mainly in Iraq and Afghanistan. Our uniformed personnel are daily placed in harm’s way, facing an enemy which in many cases is often unseen until they strike. This is of course a physical confrontation in which people use material weaponry to…

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Are Christians considered to be Israelites?

Question: Are those who are now under the new covenant, Christians, considered to be Israelites now? Are we the part of the nation of Israel? Figuratively speaking, of course. Answer: Christians are not physically Israelites, but we are the spiritual equivalent. “For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that…

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Bible Thumpers

by Sam Stinson “And the woman said to Elijah, ‘Now I know that you are a man of God, and that the word of the LORD in your mouth is truth'” (I Kings 17:24). Brethren, Jesus rightly said that God’s word is truth (John 17:17). God’s word has the ability to sanctify those who would…

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Do Warring Factions Mean Christianity Is False?

by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: I Corinthians 11:17-22   I.         You hear all sorts of excuses when you attempt to talk to others about Christianity.             A.        “Well, I can’t take that Christian stuff seriously. You folk are all suppose to worship the same god, love your neighbor, and things like that, yet look at all the fighting…

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Where Do You Live?

  I.         Where a person spends his time reveals a lot about their character             A.        Which country or region a person comes from             B.        The kind of home they select or the people they live with             C.        But we are interested in spiritual things here. Where can I find your tent, among God’s people or Satan’s followers?             D.        The Bible…

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What’s in Your Bucket?

by Wendi L. Capehart When I was a young mother of two children in diapers an older lady at church shared the bucket parable with me.  The basic idea is that as you go through life, you are carrying a full bucket.  And sometimes in your day-to-day life,  you get bumped or jostled and this…

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The Ten Virgins

by Shawn Daniels  Jesus gives this parable of the kingdom of heaven: “Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil…

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How can you take up a cross and follow Christ today?

Question: Regarding Matthew 10:38: What is it to take a cross and follow Christ today? Answer: We see the cross today as the jagged, wooden instrument used in putting to death Jesus Christ our Savior. Yet before His followers had even a slight idea that Jesus would die by that manner, Jesus spoke of the cross.…

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Just Your Average Joe

by Steven Harper Joe was born in a small town in the Midwest and was welcomed into the family by his parents, both of whom were committed, believing disciples who had come out of denominationalism and a long family history of following religious beliefs, not in accord with New Testament Christianity. His parents had the…

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What does it mean to be a child of God?

Question: What does it mean to be a child of God? Answer: “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs–heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together” (Romans 8:16-17). Jesus told…

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I am a Restorer

Author Unknown I am a restorer – unbowed, undaunted, extremist, and eccentric. The centerpiece of my intellectual universe is Biblical primitivism, a search for the first pure truths and ordinances. I am seeking that elusive image of Christianity as it came from the mind of God. You may say it is not there; it is…

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Expendable

by Robert F. Turner via Plain Talk, February 1974 During World War II, when British troops were facing Dunkirk; when our boys were pushed from Bataan; someone applied the term “expendable” to forces left to cover the withdrawal. They were considered certainly lost — given to the enemy — their death or capture, the price…

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What advantage is there to being religious?

Question: What are the advantages of being religious? Answer: Much would depend on what you have in mind when you refer to someone as “religious.” Many religions in the world do not offer their followers an advantage. But since you asked me, I will assume that you are equating Christianity to being religious. In this…

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Appropriate 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…

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Clothed with Christ

by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Galatians 3:26-29   I.         Certain phrases are used so often that we forget the meaning of them.             A.        Not until someone asks does it take us back and then we have a hard time expressing what we know             B.        That is why young children’s questions of “why is the sky blue” or “how…

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Morals in the Pulpit and in the Pew

by Leslie Diestelkamp via Think, Vol. 2, No. 5, July 1971 Once, when I preached a sermon on morals, a mature man in the congregation asked to speak. For perhaps two or three minutes he exhorted the people, giving complete endorsement to what I had preached. I believe his endorsement may have impressed the people more…

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We Are a Different People

by Eugene W. Clevenger via The Preceptor, Vol. 1, No. 6, April 1952 One of the greatest factors within the church today that is hindering the cause of Christ is a morbid fear on the part of being different. God’s people in every dispensation have been different people, and members of the New Testament church…

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The Unique Religion of Christ

by Dillard Thurman via Gospel Minutes, 1972 There are many religions in the world, but Christianity is unique! It stands alone. Whereas our coins bear the inscription: “E Pluribus Unum,” to signify “one among many,” it is surely not true in regard to Christianity. It is a unique religion. The word, “unique,” allows only one…

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The Ten Cannots

by William J. H. Boetcker (1916) You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift. You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong You cannot help the poor man by destroying the rich. You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatred. You cannot build character and courage by taking away man’s initiative…

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Permission and Promotion

by Marita Crozier I recently read Lessons from the Classroom: 20 Things Good Teachers Do by Hal Urban. Don’t be fooled by the title into thinking that this book is only for educators and thus not for you. On the contrary, this is one of the best books I have ever read about life in general. There…

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We are at War!

by Jeffrey W. Hamilton I.         Few Christians realize that their country is at war             A.        No, I don’t mean the U.S.             B.        I mean the country every Christian in the world belongs to, the church of our Lord and God.                         1.         Phil 3:20 – Our citizenship is in heaven                         2.         Eph. 2:19 – You are fellow citizens                         3.         Few Christians realize…

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