Articles
The title says it all, doesn’t it? All the fuss and handwringing over the Artificial Intelligence (AI) phenomena is quite anxiety producing for unbelievers. They have nowhere to go. The machines they depend on (computers, software, information-times-a-trillion) now threaten to eat them alive. Frankenstein’s revenge is here with a single key stroke! Not so with God’s children, who fear God, not mac...
If somebody was to ask why the church meets on Sunday, we would likely answer, “to worship.” This isn’t an incorrect answer. We are called to assemble with the church on the first day of the week and worship is something they did on this day (Acts 20:7; I Corinthians 16:1-2). However, look at one of the clearest statements made about our purpose of assembling together: And let us consider how to s...
Imagine being a Christian in the first century. Maybe you are fortunate enough to be where you can meet and worship with a congregation of the Lord’s people. It would have to be walking distance. Perhaps in Thessalonica, either of the cities called Antioch, or maybe Berea or somewhere in Judea. Wherever you were, the first day of the week would have been just another work day. There would have bee...
I was watching a theological reaction to an Easter Sunday service stage play done by the Transformation Church in our very own Tulsa, OK. A play that has brought the church and its leaders national criticism from the Christian community. During the reaction, the ‘pastor’ of the church says he did this big production to reach the community around them. The show host then pauses the video and respon...
Since the beginning of 2023, 1,000 Christians have been martyred in Nigeria due to specific planned attacks on their meeting places and homes. Last month alone, 29 Christians were killed in Nigeria. In fact, a known 52,250 Christians, including their children, have been slaughtered due to attack from Boko Haram Jihadists since 2009. During this time, 18,000 churches and 2,200 Christian schools hav...
The old Disney movie, Hercules, is one of my favorite movies. It came out when I was growing up and not only did it capture my love with its charming story, but the music really hit me. Especially the song ‘Distance.’ It’s a great little tune about finding where you belong. Even today, I still sing to myself that “I can go the distance, if I can be strong. Every mile will be worth my while. I will...
If we want to reach somebody, whether they are our kids, our neighbors, our family, our coworkers, or anybody else, we must remember this truth: People don’t care about what we know, until they know that we care. Here’s an example. What is a television show you absolutely love? Take a second and bring it to your mind. Once you have it in mind, answer this question; What was the opening line in the...
I have often heard folks make disparaging remarks about Christianity or Christians or the church. Hypocrisy, self-righteousness and judgmental mentalities are the kinds of things at the top of the non-church-goers’ lists that bug them about “us”. Well duh, “guilty as charged” with regard to any number of such poor behaviors. Why do you think we have come to Jesus??? No one becomes a Christian beca...
#1 I must never forget that because of my sin, I deserve death. But God has not killed me. In fact, he arranged for his son to pay my debt with his own life. I deserve to die, but here I am a free man walking around living life in the world God made, enjoying his blessings and his care. #2 I must never forget the kind of death from which I have been rescued. A continuing death, being separated fro...
Pentecost was one of the three main feasts God instructed the nation of Israel to keep. It was to be held on the fiftieth day after the Passover Sabbath (Leviticus 23:15-16). God instructed that this feast was to take place on the fiftieth day after counting seven Sabbaths from the Passover. Pentecost, as designed therefore, would always fall on a first day of the week. The Pentecost recorded in t...
I always laugh at the teenage girl who says the word “literally” too much. “I literally can’t even.” I am not sure what that even means. “I literally can’t breathe.” You are literally breathing when you said that. “Literally.” Sometimes in Scripture there are figurative statements. These statements aren’t meant to be taken in the most basic sense but are illustrative and metaphorical. I’m not sure...
On the morning of February 8th of this year, a group of students stayed after a chapel service at Asbury University in Wilmore, Kentucky. Apparently one of the students began to confide in others regarding sin in his life. There were prayers, then singing, and before long others were returning to this renewed time of worship. This humble circumstance quickly flourished into what came to be known a...
When I first began attending Choctaw Church of Christ, the former youth minister, Mike Coghill, did a teen class where the teens turned in questions and he answered them. This quarter in the teen class, I followed his lead and we have been covering questions that the teens have about the Church, religion in general, and Christianity within our society. It’s been a successful class and it has surpr...
A class filled with almost 30 teenagers ready to learn about God on a Wednesday night. A nine-year-old stand before 100 people and lead us in our singing to the Lord.A group of girls spend Saturday night watching their church family’s children so couples could have a date night.Multiple young men quietly serving trays during our communion time multiple weeks in a row.A group of young adults gather...
As a newer student of Bible study, I often find myself understanding doctrine, but not understanding scripture. I find myself stating ‘facts’ that I learn in class or from a more mature Christian and not truly understanding the words written. For example: I know that the greatest command is to “love the Lord your God with all your soul, and with all your mind.” (Matthew 22:37) but I don’t understa...
To be relevant, the Bible would have to address today’s issues. Does it do that? You only have to read the first 27 verses of the book to see that gender was divinely designed and separated into only two sexes, male and female, both in the image of Almighty God. Oddly enough, that is a big issue today in the minds of some. So by the above truth, the Bible also addresses what constitutes marriage, ...
I have mixed emotions concerning this latest runaway hit streaming online called the “Chosen”. Imagine, a TV soap opera based on Jesus’ life! What is there not to like? Great production, realistic portrayals and aside from accurate reenactments of the familiar events in Jesus’ life and ministry, the writers have created fascinating back stories for each apostle that brings these little known chara...
Apologetics defined – “reasoned arguments or writings in justification of something, typically a theory or religious doctrine”. Apologetics must be valuable because the Holy Spirit sprinkled them throughout God’s word. Here are a few examples (note – ff means “and following”): Psalm 19:1ff – “The heavens are telling of the glory of God; and their expanse is declaring the work of His hands.”….. Exa...
Self-control is the ability to live with restraints. In the Greek, the word for self-control is Enkrateia meaning ‘having a great force within, but under control.’ Self- control is the last Fruit of the Spirit that is listed in Galatians chapter 5 but that doesn’t make it the least important. The world looks at the self-control demanded in Scripture and sees it almost as weakness. It most often co...
After the birth of Jesus, Joseph is told in a dream to take Mary and their Son to Egypt to avoid the threat against his life from Herod (Matthew 2:13). In this short passage we learn a few truths about the enemies of Jesus. To the Enemies Of Jesus, Nothing Is Off Limits: “…Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him (Matthew 2:13).” Herod was fearful of losing his power and authority. H...