Articles

Initiative. One dictionary offers as a definition, “that which begins”. It is a character trait each of us should develop, but often seems like few of us have. Sadly, it seems that the ‘wicked’ are the ones who develop this tendency more than any other group. God speaks of them… hearts that devise wicked plans, feet that run rapidly to evil (Proverbs 6:18), inventors...

Use Your Speech - Not just your vocabulary, but the things you talk about, and especially the way you talk about others. Refuse to be a source of gossip, or perhaps even better, refuse to be an ear for it. Always speak as positively as you can about others and this will make a positive impression on those who hear you. Remember, “if you can’t say something nice, don’t say anythin...

I recently read the following article about evangelism that could be adapted for our use. “What is the method? I call it newsletter evangelism. It involves passing out a series of about 25 different newsletters to homes in your area by church members who volunteer to have “paper-routes” of the size of their choosing, for about a 3 month period. After passing out the series of new...

How are you handling the financial fears, the declarations of pending depression, or the worry about work? Christ’s attitude, as given in Hebrews 12:3, is astounding and so heartening: “Who for the joy that was set before Him, endured the cross.” What a paradox! The greatest love entwined with joy at the same moment of the greatest loss amidst agonizing affliction! “Greater...

1.    Have you ever gone away, for example, on a vacation, and when you returned no one in your church family noticed you had been gone? 2.    Do you feel like no one ever tries to find out about you or your family? 3.    Ever feel like you have the “family name”, but aren’t a real part of the family? 4.    Would you say...

God has always regulated worship. He has never left it up to us to come before Him as we please. Something I have come to call The Romans 10:17 principle, is axiomatic. The passage itself teaches: So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. Several Biblical passages and historical references, aside from our own ‘common sense’, teach us that we do not have the capaci...

Your initial response to the above question may be, “Duh, anyone who sins”; and you would be right. This is the simplest definition. Jesus used the term “sinner” frequently and so did the gospel writers. Typically, it seems to refer to those whose behavior was considered outside of the law in an open and obvious way. Both Matthew and Mark called some with whom Jesus ate, si...

#1 Each one of us has been designed by God. He made the first man and woman and put within them the genetics we see represented in the diversity of mankind. The colors of our skins, the textures of our hair, the body types and facial features we see from nationality to nationality were all placed in Adam and Eve and have been handed down to you and me and every one else in whatever combination we ...

But to which of the angels has He ever said, “SIT AT MY RIGHT HAND, UNTIL I MAKE YOUR ENEMIES A FOOTSTOOL FOR YOUR FEET”? Are they not all ministering spirits, sent out to render service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation? Hebrews 1:13-14 In the context of the letter, the inspired writer was primarily making a point about the preeminence of Jesus over the angels. In the p...

I love to hunt. Bow hunting in particular, for deer. Problem is, I can’t really articulate why I have such strong feelings about it. Others like myself simply describe our mutual passion for the sport as something that “gets in your blood”. Obviously there are the “regular” commonplace things we love about it, like the smell of the woods in the fall or the ever-changi...

In Carl Menninger’s book, Whatever became of Sin? (chapter 3 entitled, “The Disappearance of Sin: An Eyewitness Account”), are some sobering comments about the trend to eliminate from our vocabulary those deeds which the Holy Spirit stated all people do, and whose wages are death (Romans 3:23;6:23)! Paul further specified some such deeds, affirming that one who practiced such &ld...

You have a conscience for a reason. Think of it as a highly advanced onboard warning system, hardwired down so deep within you that it is often referred to as your “gut”. Be advised, situations often arise in life that call for just such a system to be in place when nothing else would be reliable. Perhaps someone you trust tries to talk you into doing something with which you are not c...

The following points are recurring topics in these letters and they would likely be things that Jesus would say to us today. Jesus knows His churches. He said such things as: “I know your deeds”, I know where you dwell”, “I know your tribulation”. He knew Antipas of Pergemum by name. He knows us very well. He wants churches to guard their teaching. We must understand ...

Jesus did. So did His apostles. Want to see some examples? How about John 4:20-22 where Jesus told a Samaritan woman that she and her people didn’t even know what they worshiped? If we’d been there, would we have been embarrassed about it? He then told her that salvation was of the Jews (not the Samaritans). Today, He likely would be branded as narrow, bigoted, intolerant and arrogant ...

Can you recall a reference anywhere in the Bible that would lead you to believe that God the Father, Jesus, or the Holy Spirit ever considered any human affront to be a personal insult? I haven’t. Of course, there are plenty of places where we are told that God was angered by people’s behavior. To my knowledge, however, we are never lead to believe that He considered Himself to be pers...

Numerous biblical references relate to good deeds done by varied individuals in Christ’ s covenant. Think of how many good deeds Jesus did that have been noted and re-noted for the past 2000 years (Mark 2:1-10; John 2:1-11; 6:1-14 etc.). Think of the giving by brethren at Antioch for the needy souls in Judea (Acts 11:27-30). Paul noted how that brethren at Philippi had sent support to him fr...

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER (which is the first commandment with promise), SO THAT IT MAY BE WELL WITH YOU, AND THAT YOU MAY LIVE LONG ON THE EARTH. Ephesians 6:1-3 You may have noticed that two-year-olds don’t usually read very much. That’s why I really doubt that the Holy Spirit inspired Paul to write the above with the int...

Crosby, Stills and Nash recorded this song in the 1970’s. It was a truly different lyric for its time. This was the time of “free love” and “if it feels good, do it” philosophies, not an unwelcome “look at yourself” and “what your life is teaching” concept. But there it was, a sermon in song title. The concept is certainly Biblical. 1. Jesus ta...

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth….. 2nd Timothy 4:3-4 NEWSWEEK magazine should change their name. Their recent article, Our Mutual Joy, is not news. It is a repeat of old contortions in Bible &ls...

The above is part of Acts 17:26 where the apostle Paul is attempting to introduce the true and living God to the Athenians on Mars Hill. I have often wondered what all the idea of determining the boundaries of man’s habitation entailed. Our present technology seems to have taken us a long way. That is not to say that we have ‘arrived’ anywhere in particular. After all, someone co...