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Be Thankful Matthew Henry, author of a widely respected 19th-century commentary on the whole Bible, was once robbed. In his diary that evening, he wrote the following words: “Let me be thankful: First, because I was never robbed before; second, because although they took my purse, they did not take my life; third, because even […]
Empty Pages Gilbert Alexander When children are born, they are like books full of empty pages. Some have more pages than others, but we don’t know how many pages each one has. What we must understand is that we as parents and their elders are helping write each page in each book. Each page is […]
Did You Ask Him to Worship With You? Bobby K. Thompson We might not feel we can accomplish great tasks, but there is something all of us can do. We can invite those with whom we have contact during the week to worship with us on the Lord’s day. This certainly does not require a […]
Considering The Outcome Bill Hall We have no sympathy for those who at every funeral “preach the dead right on into heaven,” who ignore the obvious failure on the part of the deceased to serve the Lord, who try to think that all will somehow get to heaven in spite of their disobedience. There is […]
How to See “Eye to Eye” Religiously Mark W. White Why do some people not see religious things the way we see them? Why is there so much difference between what we teach and what the denominations profess? Do we not all have the same Bible? Are we not all trying to serve the same […]
What Do You See in a Casket? Jarrod M. Jacobs After the loss of our sister Goldie last week, as I looked at her body in the casket (James 2:26), the question that I used in the title came to my mind. All people must face the reality of death. There is not a day […]
When People Find No Place for Repentance Terry W. Benton If grace so freely covers all sin without repentance, why was Paul so concerned that he warned night and day with tears about people in the church teaching false doctrine? I have a hard time reading Paul’s warnings to Timothy and come away with the […]
Sound Doctrine Gary Smalley The New Testament word “doctrine” simply means “teaching.” Students of the Scriptures realize very quickly that therein are two very distinct types of “doctrine,” the “doctrines of demons” (1 Timothy 4:1) and the “sound doctrine” (1 Timothy 4:6) whose originator is Christ (2 John 9). The “doctrines of demons” (“devils” in […]
The Family Religion Mark White Oh, we’re members down at First Church because that’s where my Grandparents worshipped when they moved into town many years ago. Why, my Mother and Father were married down there. Our kids all grew up at First, and when our oldest little granddaughter was born, they brought her back to […]
Eager to Leave It was my first time at church. I had never really wanted to go, but a good friend of mine had finally worn me down enough to give it a try. I had always thought, “That church stuff isn’t for me,” or, “I’m a good person. What do I need church for?” […]
False Arguments Justifying Sin Dylan Stewart One of Satan’s most effective tactics is convincing people that sin does not really matter. In the very beginning, Satan employed this very strategy by telling Eve, “You will not surely die” (Genesis 3:4), directly contradicting God’s warning about the consequences of disobedience. Satan continues to use the same […]
The Reality of Apostasy Richard Thetford Apostasy? What is apostasy? To some this word may sound strange and may not have meaning. But let us first assign a meaning to this word and then we will understand how serious apostasy is. Webster’s New World Dictionary defines apostasy as: “an abandoning of what one believed in, […]
Worship in Reverence David A. Cox “By those who come near Me I must be regarded as holy; and before all the people I must be glorified.” –– (Leviticus 10:3) It is easy to come to worship without thinking deeply about why we gather. For many, attending services has become second nature—we come because it […]
“I Don’t Love Her Anymore” Greg Gwin A forty year old man, suffering through the classic “mid-life crisis,” sat down to talk to a preacher about his problems. He explained how his marriage of 20 years was no longer satisfying or fulfilling. Finally, he reached the ‘bottom line.’ “I just don’t love her anymore”, he […]
Two Churches Want to Grow Bill Hall Two churches want to grow, but their attitudes toward growth differ greatly. The first church looks upon growth as its primary purpose. Goals are placed before the membership: “We want to double our membership within the next three years,” for instance. Success (or failure) is judged almost entirely […]
How to Keep People Faithful Bill Hall “The way to keep people faithful is to develop within them a genuine love for the Lord. When people love the Lord, they will be faithful, and it won’t take some kind of ‘special’ project to keep them faithful. They will also be involved: in worship, in study, […]
Instrumental Music in Worship David Padfield It would be impossible to preach a sermon on “The Use Of Instrumental Music In The New Testament Church.” There is not one word in all the New Testament about Christians using mechanical instruments in worship to God. Instrumental music was introduced into religious service by King David, nearly 450 […]
Apostasy Can Happen Quickly Doy Moyer Among the many lessons we learn from studying the children of Israel is that apostasy can happen within a single generation. Proximity close to the original is no guarantee of holding to the truth. This pattern happened quickly and more than once. The first generation that came out of […]
Is There a Divine Pattern for The Church? Keith Sharp We must surely realize our need for such a pattern. No reputable contractor would attempt to construct a building without a blueprint. Even the most talented seamstress realizes the need for a pattern. This is because the tasks they undertake are difficult. Of how much […]
Confusion and Transgression Sewell Hall Have you ever heard anyone say, as an explanation for some sinful action, “I have become so confused I don’t know what is right anymore”? As a rule, the person who says such a thing is one who has had clear convictions but has acted, or is about to act, […]
Proper and Improper Controversy Irven Lee We should all recognize that a certain bit of controversy is inevitable if there is to be growth and if the church is to be kept pure. Faithful servants of the Lord are to go out into an unbelieving world and earnestly contend for the faith. Reproving and rebuking […]
Daniel’s Influence Shane Williams Daniel’s life revealed the authenticity of his faith in God. He conducted himself so honorably in his high office that Darius “planned to appoint him over the entire kingdom” (Dan. 6:3). The other governors and satraps, however, were jealous and began to plan a way of getting rid of Daniel. As […]
Naaman Was Healed by Grace Through Faith Terry Wane Benton At first, Naaman did not appreciate the simple instructions to dip in the Jordan seven times (II Kings 5:1-14). He wanted to be healed of leprosy, but he wanted it to be on his terms. He imagined that God would heal him some other way. […]
Are You Saved? Carrol R. Sutton Are you saved? Of course, you are not saved eternally in heaven at the present time, but are you now saved from your past sins? You are NOT saved just because you may desire salvation. The rich young ruler desired to be saved, but he was not willing to […]
Fat Doctors Who Smoke Dan S. Shipley Most have heard about the overweight smoker who, after taking his annual physical exam, was lectured at length by his doctor on the dangers of smoking and obesity. When asked by the doctor what he intended to do about these things he replied, “Sir, I’m going to go […]
Serving in My Senior Years Robert Harkrider I well remember how disappointed I was when, as a young preacher, I was told that one of our elders was “retiring” as an elder. I thought, “How could any Christian of any age ever retire?” Aren’t we responsible to do like Paul, who wrote, “I press toward […]
Walk in Wisdom Toward Outsiders Dylan Stewart In Colossians 4:5, Paul commanded Christians to “walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time.” Those who have been created anew in Christ (Colossians 2:11-13, 3:10) must realize how important it is to “walk” carefully and with “wisdom toward those who are outside.” Given Christians’ […]
You Wouldn’t Have Liked John the Baptist If… David Diestelkamp If you struggle to listen to a preacher because of the way he dresses, you wouldn’t have liked John the Baptist. His clothing was rough and was neither stylish nor formal (Matthew 3:4; 11:8). If you don’t like a preacher because of his awkward social habits, […]
We Can’t Save Ourselves David Riggs “But we are all like an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags; we all fade as a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.” (Isa. 64:6) Let us suppose that a plane crashes into the water with three men aboard, and […]
The Doctrine of the Nicolaitans Terry W. Benton Revelation 2:15 mentions the doctrine of the Nicolaitans and says that God “hates” that doctrine. Whatever it was, the church at Pergamos had members that taught this doctrine as well as the doctrine of Balaam (Revelation 2:14). Because of these doctrines in the church, God had “a few […]
Calling Upon The Name Of The Lord Kent E. Heaton Sr. In the final moments of life and with final words, a voice cries out, “Lord Jesus save me.” As an invitation is given to those who need to obey the message of salvation, a plea is given, “Accept Christ as your personal Savior […]
Are You Sure It Doesn’t Matter? Greg Gwin Imagine yourself walking into a drug store to have a prescription filled. You hand the pharmacist the form from your doctor, and then watch in amazement as he throws it in the wastebasket without even reading it. Then, without reading the label, he hands you a bottle […]
Peter Reminds Us of Our Relations Gary Smalley In 1 Peter 2:17, Peter wrote what may be considered a concise, four-point summary of the Christian’s relations to others. Please consider the Christian’s duty to live by these imperatives: “Honor all people” – Though we live in an unkind world where most people have no interest […]
Navigating Disagreements Dylan Stewart When we find ourselves in the middle of a disagreement with someone, it is important that we possess the correct attitude during these difficult situations. If we are not careful, we can escalate what started out as a minor problem and turn a disagreement into something far more destructive. Whenever we […]
Lessons in Times of Disaster Marc W. Gibson What lessons should the faithful Christian learn from times of disaster? Disaster can strike at any time or place and can start in the smallest ways (the proverbial “finger in the dike”). We must remain alert and watchful at all times, physically and spiritually (Eph. 5:15-17). The […]
The Gospel Frank Himmel The word “gospel” means good news. Mark called his book “the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God” (Mark 1:1). It is the good news that Jesus, the Son of God, came to earth and gave himself as a sacrifice on our behalf. Through His blood, we can have forgiveness […]
It’s What We Make Of It Bill Hall An old man was sitting on the porch of the community store when some settlers came by in their horse-drawn wagon. “What kind of people will we find in this area if we choose to make our home here?” asked the settlers. “What kind of people did […]
A Servant’s Heart Greg Gwin Our Lord taught that if we would be truly great in His kingdom, we MUST develop a servant’s heart. “But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant” (Mt. 23:11). If we understand this truth, then we will be working more and more to acquire the attitudes and […]
It’s Always Needed Shane Williams I heard a story of a man in the mid 1950’s entering school to study engineering. A professor told the entering freshmen class to buy the best slide rule they could afford. The reason: “You will be dependent on it all your ‘professional life.’” Well, of course, it wasn’t too […]
Unread Letters Matt Hennecke A childhood accident resulted in the poet Elizabeth Barrett becoming an invalid and recluse. Despite her isolation her early poetry drew the attention of Robert Browning who began courting her. He eventually asked for her hand in marriage in 1846. But there’s more to the story. In her youth, Elizabeth had […]
TRYING TO ADAPT THE CHURCH TO EVERYBODY Sewell Hall I was never an avid baseball fan and living in Atlanta has done little to convert me. One 4th of July, however, I did agree to go with a group of Christian friends to a Braves game. From the time we arrived at the field, I […]
Going to A Funeral? Mark White “IT IS BETTER TO GO TO THE HOUSE OF MOURNING THAN TO GO TO THE HOUSE OF FEASTING: for this is the end of all men, and the living will lay it to heart. Sorrow is better than laughter, for by sadness of countenance the heart is made glad. […]
That’s Not A Problem Here Heath Rogers A number of years ago I was reprimanded for preaching a rather straightforward sermon on the sin of homosexuality. The language of the sermon had upset a couple in the church, as they did not want their young children exposed to this subject. When I discussed this matter […]
What Does Preaching Accomplish? Bob Waldron The Old Testament prophet was the preacher of his day. He was inspired, but other than that, he served in the same role as preachers must serve today. There were all kinds: blunt Amos, noble Isaiah, austere Elijah. There were also different purposes served by the various prophets. Some […]
The Purpose of Baptism David A. Cox “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” –– (Acts 2:38). There are two common perspectives regarding the purpose of Baptism. The first view holds that […]
Things Saul Saw When Blind John Isaac Edwards While Saul of Tarsus was on the road to Damascus, he was blinded by a light from heaven (Acts 9:1-9). During the time that Saul was blind, he saw a number of things that most people today don’t see. Let’s notice three things that Saul saw while […]
Careful with the Word “Miracle” Gardner Hall I see increasing numbers of references among disciples of Christ referring to events in their lives as miraculous, or even asking for a miracle. Perhaps it’s time for a reminder that we don’t live in the miraculous age. That fact almost used to be taken for granted in […]
The Work God Gave the Local Church Steve Klein God is the Master designer. We need only look at the physical universe to realize this. Psalm 19:1 tells us that, “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament shows His handiwork.” The intricate and marvelous design of the creation shows the wisdom […]
Why “Liberal” and “Conservative” Churches of Christ Robert Harkrider During the past two decades, many have asked this question. Some sincere brethren who have been caught up in one stream or the other never fully understood, and many who were too young before have now grown to adulthood wondering why. It is, therefore, a good […]
Is the New Testament a Law? Jonathan Perz The Bible is undeniably divided into two key sections—the Old Testament and the New Testament. This division is described in the Bible in various ways, some literally and some figuratively. One such contrast is seen when the Bible refers to the Old Testament as the “Law of Moses” […]
The Vick‘s Salve Syndrome Paul Stringer I believe that the person who first said, “The customer is always right,” never worked in a retail sales position. A few years back, a lady who I had never seen before stormed into the pharmacy we owned at the time, made a bee-line to the cough and cold […]
How Men Act When They Repent Steve Klein In Matthew 12:41, Jesus said, “The men of Nineveh will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and indeed a greater than Jonah is here.” According to Jesus, the men of Nineveh repented at the preaching of […]
Fear of the Lord Defined (Psalm 34:11-14) Dylan Stewart If you study the Bible, there is no mistaking the repeated commands to “fear” God. For example, the wise man famously stated, “Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all” (Ecclesiastes 12:13b). Similarly, Peter commanded, “Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. […]
Better than Confession David Maxson “Yet even now, “declares the LORD, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting, weeping, and with mourning; and rend your hearts and not your garments.” (Joel 2:12-13) If we’ve heard very many sermons at all, we’ve doubtless made one of the following statements after a good lesson: “Preacher, […]
Can Those That Are Sincere Be Wrong? Donnie V. Rader Honesty and sincerity do not guarantee that our positions and actions are right. We recognize that principle in other areas of life. Why not grabble with it in religion? We all know that it is possible for one to take the wrong medication, while believing […]
Legalism … Again … and Again … and Again … Jonathan Perz Ugh. (Yes, I just started a post off with the word “ugh.”) I realize that many of my brethren have grave concerns about the idea of “legalism.” It has become quite paramount in the thinking of some. The way some speak, there is […]
You Legalist! Dave Hart “You…you… legalist!!” I remember the first time I was called a legalist. It was not a compliment. The response was given after I had shown what the Bible commands on a particular subject. The exact words were, “I think it’s sad that you’re such a legalist.” Since then, there have been many […]
Legalism: The Un-Sin Steve Klein Since the church began, the devil has concocted any number of diabolical schemes to ensnare God’s people. One of his most successful gambits has been the invention of the pseudo-sin commonly called legalism. More people consider legalism to be a sin than consider 7-UP to be a cola, but they […]
Attitude Mark White If you would like to kill the work of your local congregation, then I have the perfect plan: 1. Skip services often and encourage others to skip, too. 2. When you do attend, come in late and cause a little disturbance. While there, take a good nap. 3. Always be critical and […]
Act as Though You’re Deaf Leon Mauldin We trust that our readers are familiar with Israel’s request to Samuel that he make them a king, so “that we also may be like all the nations” (I Samuel 8:20). Having prayed to God, and having warned the Act people of how the reality of their having […]
Why I Go to Every Service of the Church I Go To Every Service of The Church Because I Am Made Stronger. Power is given in worship to live a nobler, holy life (Acts 20:32). There is the sweetest fellowship on earth. Why should I want to miss ANY service? I Go To Every Service of […]
What Makes a Pharisee? Scott Beyer The Pharisees and the scribes asked Him, “Why do Your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat their bread with impure hands?” (Mark 7:5) One of the most common arguments leveled against Jesus was that He ignored the traditions and customs of previous generations. […]
Is He Really a Pharisee? John R. Gibson I frequently hear and read of religious people today being referred to as Pharisees, but I don’t believe the word means what many of those who use it think it means. Before you ever refer to or think of someone as a Pharisee, it would be wise […]
Nadab, Abihu, and the “Strange Fire” Tom Edwards The Old Testament abounds with numerous examples that illustrate New Testament principles, such as in Leviticus 10:1-2, in which the lesson is taught that God will not accept just any kind of worship. It reads, “Now Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took their respective firepans, and […]
If He Repents, Forgive Him Pat Donahue Jesus said in Luke 17:3, “Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.” Many, even some Christians, evidently are more “charitable” than God himself, and more “charitable” than God instructs us to be in this verse. They say […]
The Truth Sometimes Hurts Jonathan Perz How much do you appreciate the truth? The truth is easy to hear when it is flattering, encouraging, and uplifting. However, the truth can sometimes hurt. Do you always desire the truth from those around you, regardless of whether it is favorable or not? Do you always demand the […]
A Cow Fell From Heaven Glen Young The dazed crew members of a Japanese trawler were plucked out of the Sea of Japan clinging to the wreckage of their sunken ship. Their rescue, however, was followed by immediate imprisonment once authorities questioned the sailors on their ship’s loss. Every single one of them claimed that […]
A Cow Fell From Heaven Glen Young The dazed crew members of a Japanese trawler were plucked out of the Sea of Japan clinging to the wreckage of their sunken ship. Their rescue, however, was followed by immediate imprisonment once authorities questioned the sailors on their ship’s loss. Every single one of them claimed that […]
An Open Letter from Nadab and Abihu Brethren, it is with the utmost humility that we inform you of a change of worship practices in your normal sacrificing. Be assured that we are bringing about this change only after much prayer and study. We have recently concluded an in-depth re-study of the Law as delivered […]
To You Who Bring Small Children to Church There you are, sitting in worship or Bible study. Your child, or toddler, is restless. Perhaps they’re even a little boisterous. You try to silence them, and nothing. You try to pacify them with food or toys, and nothing. Eventually, you resort to the last thing you […]
Do Miracles Occur Every Day? Leon Mauldin What does the Bible teach regarding miracles? Is it true, as some claim, that miracles are happening every day? In reality, even during Bible times, miracles did not occur “every day.” Miraculous activities for the most part were confined to certain periods of Biblical history. These included the […]
The Benefits of Being in Prison (Philippians 1:12-14) Mike Johnson (12) But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel, (13) so that it has become evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains […]
Keep It Simple Jarrod Jacobs The above statement is the “mantra” of a friend of mine. When it comes to the preaching and teaching of God’s word, he has told me often, “Keep it simple.” This sentiment was impressed upon my mind even further when a sister in Christ told me, “The main problem that […]
Fellowship Bob Waldron I receive a number of church bulletins each week from several sections of the country. I appreciate them being sent to me: for the most part I have profited from reading them. One of the things I have particularly noticed has been the frequent use of the word “fellowship.” Not only have […]
What David Didn’t Say Greg Gwin One of the most famous episodes in the Bible is that of David’s sin with Bathsheba and Nathan’s subsequent confrontation with the king. It has often been pointed out that David’s confession stands as a model of what confession ought to be. We are awed by his simple, humble […]
Drawing Strength from the Courage of Others Bill Hall How thankful we should be for wonderful examples of courage that spur us on to greater strength in the Lord’s service. Paul was just such an example: “And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the […]
Three Responses to Paul’s Sermon David Cox “And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked, while others said, “We will hear you again on this matter.” So Paul departed from among them. However, some men joined him and believed, among them Dionysius the Areopagite, a woman named Damaris, and others with […]
Teaching the Old Lessons Mark White Every once in a while, some well-meaning but misguided brother will chide us for teaching the old lessons. He will say, “You are answering questions which no one is asking any longer.” By this, he means to squelch our teaching on the first principles of Gospel obedience and salvation […]
The Pulpit Roger Shouse “Ezra the scribe stood at a wooden podium which they had made for the purpose. And beside him stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hikiah, and Masseiah on his right hand; and Pedaiah, Mishel, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah and Meshullam on his left hand.” (Nehemiah 8:4) Ezra stood at a wooden podium. […]
Can We All See the Bible Alike? Hiram Hutto If a statement is made often enough, people will come to believe it even though it is not true. A good example is that which you hear so often in religion, “We can’t all see the Bible alike.” The Apostle Paul disagrees with this idea in […]
Ten Lessons to Instill in Children If you’re thankful, show it (Luke 17:11-18). If you love someone, tell them (John 15:12). If you’re wrong, fess up (James 5:16). If you’re confused, ask questions (James 1:5). If you learn something, teach others (Colossians 3:16). If you’re stuck, ask for help (Matthew 7:7). If you make a […]
Did My Generation Neglect the Grace of God? Edward O. Bragwell, Sr. I cannot understand how so many of the younger generation of preachers (sometimes encouraged by a few older ones) can talk about how woefully the generation before them neglected to tell people about the grace of God. They boldly speak about it as […]
Giving Thanks for All Things A thief broke into a modest dwelling of Matthew Henry, the celebrated Bible scholar, and stole his purse, but the busy, cheerful old gentleman, far from being downcast, turned to his diary and entered this cheerful observation; “Let me be thankful first, because he never robbed me before; second, because […]
The Walls of Jericho R.J. Evans In Joshua 6:1-6, the Israelites were instructed by the Lord to march around the city of Jericho once each day for six days. The priests were told to bear seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark, and on the seventh day, they were to march around the city seven […]
A LIVING GOD Alan Smith A defendant was on trial for murder. There was strong evidence indicating guilt, but there was no corpse. In the defense’s closing statement, the lawyer knowing that his client would probably be convicted, resorted to a trick: “Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, I have a surprise for you […]
What Does the Empty Tomb Mean to Us? Jarrod Jacobs Almost 2000 years ago, Jesus was crucified between two thieves. When He died, His body was laid in a new tomb belonging to Joseph of Arimathea (Mk. 15:43-47), there to await His resurrection on the third day. The account of the women and the apostles […]
Reasons We Shouldn’t Neglect Study of the New Testament Pat Donahue I’ve heard many sermons on how we ought to study the Old Testament (in particular), but I have never heard one (not a single sermon) do the same for the New Testament. Doesn’t that seem strange to you, especially considering the fact the New Testament is […]
Narrow Mindedness Cecil F. Cox Do you like narrow-minded people? I believe the majority of the people, if they answered that question honestly, would say “NO!” Such an attitude reflects the desire to prejudice or belittle those who sincerely seek to go by the rules and laws in life. But I believe many of us […]
Are You A Pilgrim? Terry W. Benton Peter writes with the authority of an “apostle” of Jesus Christ and he writes to the Christians who were scattered. In 1 Peter 1:1, Peter speaks of “pilgrims of the dispersion.” He was likely speaking of the Christians who had been scattered since the days when persecution had […]
ACT AS THOUGH YOU’RE DEAF Leon Mauldin We trust that our readers are familiar with Israel’s request to Samuel that he make them a king, so “that we also may be like all the nations” (1 Samuel 8:20). Having prayed to God, and having warned the people of how the reality of their having a […]
Some Facts About Christmas Tom Moody The word “Christmas” is formed by the combining of the words “Christ” and “mass,” thus, “the Mass of Christ.” The holiday as we know it originated with Roman Catholic ritual, although the ultimate origin of many of the customs of the season is not Catholicism, but paganism. No one […]
Understanding the Message Greg Gwin Did you hear about the fella who was discussing his recent visit to a church service? Someone asked him, “What did the preacher preach about?” To which he replied, “I don’t know. He didn’t say!” There could be at least a couple of reasons why a person could attend a […]
This May Shock You Donnie V. Rader This may shock you, but there are a number of things that the Bible does not teach that a multitude of people are not aware of. 1. The Bible does not teach that one church is as good as another. Rather, the Bible says, “There is one body” […]
What Might Have Been Barney L. Keith How painful is the thought expressed by one of the great poets, John Greenleaf Whittier: “For of all sad words of tongue or pen, The saddest are these: ‘It might have been!”’ Many a person has thrown away his life in drug addiction (including alcohol). Numerous are those […]
Was the Death of Stephen Unnecessary? Windell Wiser The title that heads this article may sound strange, but the actions and philosophies of some merit our consideration of such a question. It is true that we live in a country where we enjoy religious freedom. It is not against the law to preach Christ in […]
Is It Right to Criticize Another Person’s Religion? Kevin Kay It’s not only right to criticize false religion, no matter whose religion it is; it’s the faithful Christian’s responsibility. Jesus criticized the Pharisees for “teaching as doctrines the commandments of men” (Matthew 15:7-9). Paul criticized those who tried to bind the shadows of the Mosaic […]
There’s Nothing Wrong with Emphasizing Fear of Eternal Punishment Dylan Stewart For some reason, many believers take issue with Bible teachers emphasizing fear of eternal punishment as motivation for serving God. However, teaching others to obey God due to fear of punishment is the exact reason listed in 2 Corinthians 5:10-11a as to why […]
The Conversion of Cornelius Derek Long In the book of Acts chapter 10, we read of the conversion of Cornelius and his household. Many important truths can be learned by examining the account of his conversion. Let’s examine some of these lessons: 1. Being a good man is not enough to save someone. As we […]
Pilate, the Roman Governor Clarence R. Johnson As Jesus stood before Pilate, the Roman governor, He clearly acknowledged that He was born to be King of the Jews, Matt. 27:11; John 18:36-37. While in the context of Matt. 27:11, we might take note of the insight this passage gives us into the character of Pontus […]
A Recreational Church? Carey Scott Many different denominations seeking to attract numbers and new converts offer recreation as a benefit of joining their church. Entertainment and recreation seem to be a drawing card that is hard to beat. It certainly appeals to the lust of the flesh and mind. And what some of them wear […]
What’s Wrong With ‘Situation Ethics’? Greg Gwin Joseph Fletcher (1905-1991), an Episcopal priest, was the most famous proponent of “situation ethics.” In a book entitled “Situation Ethics: The New Morality,” he formalized a view that is commonly accepted by many individuals. Here are some quotes from Fletcher’s book: “For the situationist there are no rules […]
Some Benefits of Suffering Bob Waldron There is no problem in life more universal, more common, and more unique than that of suffering. It is the common malady of mankind; if we live long enough, we will experience some type or degree of suffering. It is not my purpose in this article to discuss the […]
What’s Wrong With Today’s Youth? Bill Hall All along we hear questions raised as to what has gone wrong with today’s youth. Recently, a brother expressed his concern along this line and then asked, “What advice would you give young parents to help them avoid mistakes that we have made in our generation?” The first […]
What One Tolerates, the Next Accepts Mark White John Wesley once wrote, “What one generation tolerates, the next generation will embrace.” Both sacred and secular history have proven the truth of this assessment time and time again. Everything from dancing to drinking, from abortion to mercy-killing, has gone from toleration to acceptance. In the home […]
How the Church May Use Its Money Andy Sochor “Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I directed the churches of Galatia, so do you also. On the first day of every week each one of you is to put aside and save, as he may prosper, so that no collections be made when […]
Analyzing Arguments in Favor of Instrumental Music Mark Mayberry Christianity is a religion of faith. To walk by faith means that we live in harmony with God’s Word. This has special application to our expression of worship: It must be according to God’s will! Our faith, practice and worship must be grounded in the […]
Do You Feel Saved? Wayne Greeson Are you saved? How do you know you are saved? “I know I am saved because I feel it in my heart,” many often say. But are the feelings of your heart the proper standard to determine your salvation? We do not use this standard in other matters. No […]
A Hairy Problem Roger Shouse A person between the ages of 20—30 has about 615 hair follicles per square centimeter. A person 50 years of age has around 485 hair follicles per square centimeter. Typically, most people have somewhere between 100,000 —150,000 hairs on their head. By the way, the average hair loss for an […]
Can We Just Be Christians? Craig Thomas In a world filled with religious traditions and denominational churches, the concept of being simply Just a Christian is difficult to communicate. Yet a careful reader of the New Testament will realize Jesus did not die so His followers could be divided into sects and parties (John 17:20-23). Jesus died […]
The Black Type in the Red-Letter Edition of the New Testament Gary Smalley Of course it is extremely disturbing to read or hear destructive criticisms toward the Holy Bible as unbelievers state disparaging comments regarding the reliability of the Godbreathed writings (2 Timothy 3:16; cf. 2 Peter 1:16-21; 1 Corinthians 2:12-13). But even among Christians […]
Why No Instruments of Music? Bobby Graham This question often comes from honest people, wondering why some of us do not use such mechanical instruments in the worship of the Lord. It is a fair question that demands a fair answer. All worship of God is limited by whatever divine instructions have been given for […]
The Salvation Army David Weaks I wonder how many people know that the Salvation Army is a church. The only time you see them is at Christmas time when the red kettles and bell ringers show up at entrances to shopping malls. How many times have people tossed money into the kettle, accepted the cheery […]
The Importance of Doctrine Steve Klein This past week, I noticed that the sign in front of the Presbyterian Church in Rogersville said, “Love God. Love others. The rest is doctrine.” The message was plain. Loving God and loving others are essential things, but doctrine is not essential. In other words, it doesn’t matter what […]
The Doctrine Police Dylan Stewart Name calling is often a go-to response for people who are unwilling to listen to opposing viewpoints when discussing the Bible. How long has it been since someone has called you a “legalist” for recognizing the strictness of the New Testament Law (Matthew 5:19; James 2:10)? When is the last […]
“Come Before Winter” Joshua Welch The first day of winter, for the northern hemisphere, occurs on the “winter solstice.” This year, winter solstice occurs on December 21st. Winter is a slower, more restful time for some households. There are no flowers to plant, grass to cut, and leaves to rake. Outdoor sports slow down in […]
So, What’s a Good Sermon? Jefferson David Tant Out of all the thousands of sermons preachers have delivered and to which people have listened, how would we determine which sermons are good, which are bad, or which are so-so? I would suppose that even preachers evaluate themselves from time to time, and on occasion might […]
What Is Happiness? R.J. Evans How many times have you reasoned, “I’d be happy, if only…”? And then the dream usually continues with “if only I had more money,” or “if only I had married someone else,” or “if only I had more friends, a better education, a better job, a bigger house, better health,” […]
Infant Baptism Refused for Incorrect Reasons Dylan Stewart Yesterday morning I was scrolling through my Facebook news feed and noticed a headline written by a local news station that caught my attention. The headline read, Reverend Refuses to Baptize Baby, Says Unwed Parents Are ‘Living in Sin’. To summarize the article, a Methodist preacher in […]
THE VALUE OF GOD’S WORD Richie Thetford Have you ever had something you valued very highly and were afraid that you might lose it? Most of us take great care in protecting what we highly treasure, and try to learn the best way to protect it. Sometimes our efforts to preserve and keep our treasures […]
“I Don’t Care What It Says” Steven F. Deaton In the course of a discussion the other day, I asked a man to read a certain chapter from the Bible and get back to me about our topic. He said he would read it, but it would not matter what it says, because he would […]
Troubled Over Growing Old Connie W. Adams The Bible addresses the needs of people in every stage of life. In Titus 2:1-6, Paul gave instruction for “aged men,” “aged women,” “young women,” and “young men. “Each age has its own special challenges and growing older has its share. One wag said, “It is not so […]
TURNING FORGIVENESS AROUND Greg Gwin We hear it frequently in the news these days. It has been a common defense in some high-profile criminal cases. The basic argument is that people can be excused for committing even hideous crimes if they can demonstrate that something awful happened in their past. Unfortunately, this approach has proven […]
God’s Barriers 0n the Road to Hell Jarrod Jacobs Picture a bridge that has just been washed away. When those working on this problem come to the scene, they put up barriers, or barricades to keep people from endangering their lives and the lives of others. Yes, accidents can occur, and yes, people can […]
Where Was God? Frank Richey The news is filled with tragedy and devastation, both natural and man-made. When someone’s life is lost in an accident or illness, often a loving family member will ask, where was God? The implication of this question is that a loving God would not allow this to happen. The question […]
“. . . Except You Repent” Bobby Graham “. . . but unless you repent you will all like-wise perish” (Luke 13:3). The same requirement here stated regarding certain ones is elsewhere applied to all people, for “God commands all men everywhere to repent” (Acts 17:30). Because it requires a change of mind and subsequent […]
Do We Honor Our Rulers? Dylan Stewart Social media is rampant with people – even Christians – making daily, sometimes hourly posts criticizing our governmental leaders. It does not matter what side of the political spectrum you may fall on, it is so easy to constantly dwell on the negative that the rulers of our […]
What If It Became a Crime to Assemble? Terry W. Benton In China, it is reported that if you do not renounce your faith in Jesus you will be tortured till you do. If that is so, I wonder how many of us would renounce Christ? In parts of Nigeria, you will be killed for […]
We Are Simply Christians Without Being Members of Any Denomination. You Can Be Too! 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 […]
How Do We Conduct Our Worship? Dylan Stewart Congregations often sound and look different one from another. However, one thing that should not vary between congregations is worship. Now, this is not to say that congregations cannot construct, or order, their worship services differently than another group. As long as our actions are approved by […]
Sister Peter Sewell Hall Fifty years ago, it was easier to remember the names of Christians than it is now. Every man’s first name was “Brother” and every woman’s name was “Sister.” Now, most people are known by their given names almost exclusively. We must return, however, to the old custom in designating the wife […]
A Woman’s Contribution to the Local Congregation Carey Scott More often than not, women are the lifeblood of the congregation. Attention is often given to the limitations placed on women in the assemblies of the church because of what is written in I Corinthians 14:34-37 and because of what is written in I Timothy 2:11-12. Such limitations notwithstanding, […]
Needed, Hearers Who Listen Glen Young Back when the telegraph was the fastest method of long-distance communication, a young man applied for a job as a Morse Code operator. Answering an ad in the newspaper, he went to the office address that was listed. When he arrived, he entered a large, busy office filled with […]
Dorcas, a Fond Remembrance by Friends Bill Feist She was married to a non-Christian. I met her years after the “battles” were fought over the importance and role of the Lord in her life. She sketched for me one time what some of those battles were, only because she had come to volunteer to talk […]
Self Control Bill Hall What is the value of self-control? Self-control is that which enables us to hold our tongues when we are tempted to viciously put someone in his place once and for all; or when we know a juicy bit of gossip that would be entertaining to the group and would turn us […]
Evacuation Order Jared Hagan Do you ever wonder about the people who won’t leave? It always seems to happen. A natural disaster is occurring and mandatory evacuations are sent out, but some people just won’t leave. They hold out hope that the hurricane won’t be as bad as the experts warn. They think that maybe […]
That’s Just Your Interpretation Mark Larson That’s just your interpretation! How many times has someone said that to you when you attempted to teach him the truth from the Scriptures? Rather than take the message of truth to heart, it is quickly dismissed as merely your opinion and not taken seriously at all. If you […]
Discouragement Fred A. Shewmaker This is written for those who are truly concerned about the growth of the church. Your interest in the welfare of the body of Christ makes it unthinkable that you intentionally would discourage any other member of the church. Possibly every one of you would deny ever having done anything to […]
Choose Your Words Wisely Greg Kiel “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.” Proverbs 25:11 Are you aware that there are over 100 such proverbs in this inspired book just related to the need for wisdom in our speech? Why is there such an emphasis? The general consensus is […]
What Kind of Worshipper Are YOU? Don McClain There are several different kinds of worshippers within the body of Christ, or maybe better stated – among those who claim to be members of the church of Christ. – Please seriously consider some of the following examples – The Spasmodic Worshipper – attends worship services whenever […]
The Benefits of Hell Mike Cornwell Have you ever thought of the benefits of going to Hell? Some people have said, “If you look close enough, you will find good in everything.” Will Rogers said, “I never met a man I didn’t like.” If there is some good in everything, then there must be some […]
What Will Your Children Remember? Lowell Blasingame Parental love motivates us to be concerned about our children’s welfare and seek what is best for them. We try to train them to eat properly so they will develop strong healthy bodies. We warn and advise against dangers of which they are not aware of. We make […]
Dangerous Preaching Sewell Hall A man who accepts the task of preaching the gospel accepts a dreadful responsibility. “My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment” (James 3:1). Application of these words may not be limited to what we commonly term local preachers, but they apply […]
“This Is My Body” John Hendrix “And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.” (Matthew 26:26) What of the body of Jesus? What do we think as we take the bread? There is no monument […]
Love the Brethren Carl Witty “Seeing you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in unfeigned love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart.” (I Pet. 1:22) One of the early Pagan writers observed of Christians: “how these Christians love one another!” The apostle John wrote of […]
Silence of the Preachers Joe R. Price Jeremiah was set in place by God to be His prophet to Jerusalem, Judah, and the nations. With God’s word, Jeremiah was set “to root out and to pull down, to destroy and to throw down, to build and to plant” (Jer. 1:4-5, 9-10). When he was severely […]
In Defense of Kindness Greg Chandler It is hard to believe how dirty a presidential campaign can become. One opponent states that the other has “a hideous hermaphroditic character with neither the force and fitness of a man, nor the gentleness and sensibility of a woman.” n In response, the contender replies that the other […]
What Happens When We Are Canceled? Greg Chandler If you do not stay up to date on pop-culture slang, you may be unfamiliar with the terms woke and cancel culture. Though definitions vary, the primary meaning of woke involves maintaining social awareness and the primary idea behind cancel culture is to silence anyone whose opinions are not considered woke; thus, they are deemed […]
Buy the Truth and Sell It Not Bob Waldron One of the most important attitudes one can have in striving to go to heaven is that of intense zeal for the truth of God. Too often, people settle on something far less than the truth. Remember, a counterfeit, though it may look relatively genuine, is […]
The Pulpit Roger Shouse “Ezra the scribe stood at a wooden podium which they had made for the purpose. And beside him stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hikiah, and Masseiah on his right hand; and Pedaiah, Mishel, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah and Meshullam on his left hand.” (Nehemiah 8:4) Ezra stood at a wooden podium. […]
That Preacher Offended Me! Harry Osborne What would you think of a preacher whose sermons offended people and were taken as insulting by the hearers? What if a preacher caused the audience to be filled with anger because of the hard things he said? What if he went so far as to mock false beliefs? […]
WHY I PRAY Warren Berkley I pray because I believe God listens. “Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us” (1 John 5:14). I pray because God has told me that He cares and is able to help. “Casting all your care upon Him, […]
Jesus: Intolerant, Confrontational, and Exclusionary Dan Gatlin The typical denominational view of both Father and Son is that “God is love,” and only love. What is so easily forgotten is His severity (Romans 11:22) and wrath (II Thessalonians 1:3-10). Jesus is depicted as quiet, soft-spoken, harmless, almost a wimp (nothing could be further from the […]
HOW JOSEPH RESISTED TEMPTATION Dan Richardson Temptation is something we all have in common. Scripture admonishes young people to “flee youthful lusts…” (2 Timothy 2:22), but young and old alike need to consider the temptations they face. How we respond to it is extremely important to our welfare and happiness in life, but also eternally […]
Beware of Satan’s Counterfeits! E.R. Hall, Jr. The Devil uses every means available to bewitch and deceive people. He has imitated everything pertaining to God and has been quite effective at passing around the counterfeit as being the real thing. The degree of his effectiveness can be seen in that there are many people who […]
Friendship Carl Witty Jesus was a master at friendship. He did not condescend to His disciples; He called them friends. In John 15:11-15 Jesus spoke to His friends, the twelve disciples, and revealed the basis of their (and our) friendship with Him: “… Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life […]
How the Holy Spirit Converts Mark White Conversion to Christ involves the work of the Holy Spirit. Of this we have much scriptural testimony. In fact, the Holy Spirit is essential to conversion. Hardly anyone would deny this. However, there is much dispute over the way in which the Holy Spirit assists in the conversion […]
Was Jesus a Vegetarian? Did Jesus Eat Meat? Jeffrey W. Hamilton On March 17, 1999, the Omaha World Herald reprinted a hilarious article by Bill Broadway of the Washington Post. It seems the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) have launched a campaign to claim that Jesus was a vegetarian. Billboards stating “Jesus […]
You May be Surprised to Learn . . . Doy Moyer Have you ever taken for granted certain things and believed them, just because that is what you have been told? Perhaps you find yourself in that situation now, believing and doing things because that is what you were told. Religious people sometimes believe and […]
The Need for Distinctive Preaching Jim Deason The role of the teacher is to hold back nothing profitable, but to teach the whole purpose of God (Acts 20:20, 27). That is the key to faithfully fulfilling the work of an elder or evangelist, i.e., that we hold back nothing that is profitable to the people. Preaching on the love of […]
Simon the Sorcerer W. Curtis Porter A number of “Simons” are mentioned in the New Testament. There was Simon, whose surname was Peter, also called Cephas, who was one of the twelve apostles of the Lord. In the list of apostles, there is also Simon the Canaanite, or Simon the Zealot, as he is also […]
Differences in Bible Miracles & Modern Miracles Hiram Hutto While Jesus was on earth he made some very startling claims. He claimed to be divine, and the Jews so understood him (Jn. 5:18; 10:33). He claimed to be the Son of God (Jn. 10:35-37). He claimed to be the Messiah (Jn. 4:25-26) and the […]
Seek and Ye Shall Find Barney L. Keith “Many false prophets have gone out into the world” (1 Jn. 4:1, 2). One should not be blinded to the existence of error but should seek TRUTH. Jesus promised, “The truth will make you free” (Jn. 8:32). Truth is the only antidote for error. This truth is […]
The Burial of Jesus Walton Weaver The Hebrew custom of providing a burial place for the dead is first introduced in Scripture with Abraham’s purchase of a cave in the land of Canaan for the burial of Sarah (Gen. 23:1ff.). Although Joseph was first embalmed and put in a “coffin” in Egypt (Gen. 50:26), because […]
Respecting Our Elders Joe R. Price The Bible says, “Do not rebuke an older man, but exhort him as a father, younger men as brothers, older women as mothers…” (1 Tim. 5:1-2). How we treat our elders says something about our values. And, it says something about our regard for God. Our nation is obsessed […]
What Is Our Standard of Authority? Carrol R. Sutton In every phase of human activity, we constantly see the need for recognizing a standard of authority. In time, weights, and measures, we accept certain standards. Otherwise, there would be confusion. Our honesty and sincerity is not sufficient when it comes to determining the time of […]
What a Privilege to Pray Donnie V. Rader When we realize what a privilege prayer is, we like the disciples of old will plead, “Lord, teach us to pray” (Luke 11:1). I am afraid that many of us take prayer for granted. We are not as prayerful as we ought to be simply because we […]
The Importance of Biblical Teaching Mike Johnson The Bible emphasizes that it is essential for our teaching to be in a very bold and straightforward manner, and preaching must be in strict compliance with the Bible. The early church received a great deal of teaching, and the Bible describes the instruction done then and that […]
Subjective Interpretations of Feelings and Experiences Dennis Abernathy Did you hear the story of a farmer who decided to quit farming and become a preacher? When asked why he made such a decision, the farmer said: “God called me to preach.” When asked how God called him to preach, he said he saw clouds in […]
Feelings A Dutchman lost his boy in Cincinnati. He tells his story in the following language: “I hunted all day for my boy, and about night I found him sitting in the mud by the canal. He was muddy all over. When I found my boy, he cried and I cried. I hugged my boy […]
“I Feel I Am Saved” A gospel preacher was talking to a woman who said she knew she was saved. The preacher said, “How do you know you are saved?” She made the following reply, “I was attending a religious service one time and all of a sudden I felt light as a feather—I […]
Infant Baptism Mike Johnson There is a lot of disagreement on the subject of baptism. People disagree on the purpose of baptism as well as how to baptize someone. There is also controversy regarding whom to baptize. Some say infants are proper candidates for baptism, while others say a person must be a penitent believer before baptism. Is there authority for […]