Posts from May 2023
A Dying Church is Lukewarm
It seems that one of the church’s greatest challenges, regardless of time and place, is the struggle against worldliness. The church is made up of people and people tend to adopt the mentality, culture, and practice of the time and place in which they live. To “come out from among them” (2 Cor. 6:17) that we may influence the world (Matt. 5:13-16), instead of the other way around, is a constant struggle. A sign that we are losing the battle,…
The Betrayal & Arrest of Jesus
It has been said that “those who hurt us the most are those closest to us.” Surely, it is painful and discouraging to be betrayed by a close relative or friend. However, our experience doesn’t even compare to the betrayal and arrest of Jesus. We often concentrate on His death, burial, and resurrection– and rightly so, but from His betrayal and arrest, there is a wealth of information that we can learn from. First, Jesus’s betrayal and arrest reveals God’s…
Is God Good? – Jim Lloyd
Someone may be described as “good” if they are useful or fulfill a purpose (“He’s a good baseball player”, “She’s a good surgeon”). However, “goodness” is also appropriately defined in terms of moral character and uprightness. The Bible tells us that with God both definitions are appropriate. God Himself is good, generous, and benevolent (1 Chron. 16:34, Ps. 103:8). Everything He created was “very good” (Gen. 1:31). The Bible tells us God is working in this world and on our…
Can the Bible Be Trusted? – Rob Whitacre
The authenticity of Scripture is one of the three pillars of faith: God, the Bible, and Christ. If any of these fail, the entire Christian system falls. We are living in a growing culture of skepticism and unbelief. Believers in Scripture no longer represent the vast majority; at best, it is 50-50. If we are going to change these numbers, we need to go on the offense. An offensive Christian is an evangelistic Christian. The purpose of this article is…
Did Miracles Really Happen? – Kevin Cauley
Christianity is a religion of miracles, and the Bible records the historical fact of them. Passages such as 1 Corinthians 15:1-8 declare this. The truthfulness of the Bible’s message rests squarely upon miracles (John 20:30-31). Christianity is a historical religion with historical evidence for its truthfulness, and miracles are the key witness. Many have challenged the Bible’s claims of miracles. The philosopher David Hume wrote, “A miracle is a violation of the laws of nature; and as a firm and…
Is Jesus the Son of God?
When Jesus and the twelve reached Caesarea Philippi, He asked them a very important question: “Whom do men say that I the Son of man, am?” (Matt. 16:13). Naturally, there were many thoughts and rumors of the Savior’s identity circulating Judea at the time–John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah–just as there would continue to be throughout history. Peter, however, answered the question correctly: “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matt. 16:16). That Jesus claimed deity is beyond…
Does God Exist? – Branyon May
Often the answers to the simplest of observations can yield the greatest insight. Consider the following questions. Where did all the stuff in our Universe come from? Who or what put order and design in nature? How did we end up on a life-bearing planet? By answering these questions, we can form a reasoned argument that our Universe is not an accident but a purposed result (Psalm 19:1; Romans 1:20). Natural Existence Demonstrates the Need for Supernatural The simple old…
A Dying Church Tolerates Sin
Sin is uncomfortable, or at least it should be. For those who strive to be holy (cf. 1 Pet. 1:16), even the smallest blemish should be bothersome to the point of compelling us to address it. Unfortunately, that is not always the case, especially when the sin involves other members of the congregation. For a number of reasons we try to marginalize or ignore the problem, hoping it will work itself out. But, like ignoring early symptoms of a major…
Personal Evangelism
What is your understanding of personal evangelism? When we consider this topic, we are dealing with a subject absolutely essential to the health and growth of the Lord’s church in every community. So, what is it? Simply put, personal evangelism is taking the work of sowing and watering the seed of the kingdom personally, so that God may give the increase (1 Cor. 3:6). It is a command that every Christian should be doing (Mark 16:15). Therefore, let’s consider some…