The Prophets God’s Spokesmen (Part 2)
Sometimes the prophets would look back on past faithfulness and remind the twelve tribes about the lessons learned to prepare them for a path forward. Ezekiel places the fault of the captivity at the feet of the shepherds (leaders) of the people in chapter thirty-four of his book but offers hope going forward through life brought to the valley of dry bones in chapter thirty-seven. In his day, Joshua admonished the people to choose between the mistakes of the past…
From the Director’s Desk: Practical Preaching Experience at SWSBS
Sometimes people wonder about the balance between classroom education and “outside” education at Southwest. Just today, during our final exams, I was reminded of how SWSBS blends classroom instruction with practical experience. Each graduating student has already preached their final “student sermon” without the aid of notes. Then, for a final exam, each student had to present Wednesday night devotional thoughts, a Lord’s Supper “table talk,” and a youth devotional. Each of these brief lessons was to be delivered on…
From Now On You Will Catch Men
Before we consider Peter in Luke 5:10, I want usto travel back to 2 Kings 7 and consider how fourdesperate lepers learned a timeless truth that mighthelp us understand the importance of evangelism. Howgood news was never meant to be kept to oneself. In 2 Kings 7, we see Israel’s dramatic rescue from abrutal Syrian siege led by King Ben-Hadad. Determinedto dominate the North Kingdom, Ben-Hadad failed to seethat God was in control and was using His prophet Elishato expose…
I Will Not Deny You!
The apostle Paul reminded the church of Christ atRome about the patriarch Abraham and his strengthconcerning the promise of God. “He staggered notat the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong infaith, giving glory to God” (Rom. 4:20). To the church atCorinth he would pen, “Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quityou like men, be strong” (1Cor. 16:13). When writing to thechurch at Ephesus, he would exhort them to live worthy of their calling by writing, “Finally, my…
Be Ready Always to Give an Answer
Hostility seems to be the default today. No matter thesubject, there is an ever-present risk that contrastingviews or conflicting data points will cause thediscussion to devolve into HR reports, cancel culture, oroutright violence. And that’s just talking about gardeningpractices. So how do we handle the fear of potential persecution when we are called to share something farmore impactful and controversial, the Great Commission(Matt. 28:19-20)? The initial audience of Peter’s first epistle foundthemselves asking the same question, though withmuch more violent…
“You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God”
Towering above the landscape at Israel’s northernmostborder lie three summits, snowcapped for most ofthe year, and the streams from them serve as theheadwaters of the Jordan River. In the shadow of Hermon’slofty heights lies ancient Panias, the pagan city devoted tothe Greek god Pan, the goat deity of the wild, shepherds,and flocks. Today it is called Banias, but in Jesus’ day it wasCaesarea Philippi. What He and His disciples would havewitnessed upon visiting was a reddish limestone wall over130 ft…
The Lord is Not Slack Concerning His Promise
Wrong thinking about God leads to wrongattitudes and actions. If I imagine Jehovahas the “Grandfather in the sky” who willgrant all my wishes because He loves me so much —I’ve created a new god by the same name. Similarly, if Ithink He is a hard Master just waiting to punish me, I’llreact in fear like the one-talent servant and hide insteadof serve (Matt. 25:24-25). God has revealed Himself tobe a loving and merciful Judge Who wants to save all,but will…
Lord, to Whom Shall We Go?
How incredible it must have been to have witnessedthe miracles of Jesus. To see the dead raised, leperscleansed, and storms subdued must have producedunshakable faith within those who experienced it first hand.Or, at least it should have. Miracles were not an “end” in andof themselves but were rather a “means to an end.” Theirpurpose was not to “wow” the crowds into following Jesus,but to prove the veracity of His claims and point them toHis Word (Mark 16:20). Sadly, many who…
Two Premises Worth Considering (Part A) 2 Tim. 3:16,17 & 2 Pet. 1:3
The book, Coping, by brother StevenLloyd is a great tool when one considershow to handle the problems of thislife. What makes this book great are the twopremises this book is written upon. Thesepremises are based on truths found in the wordof God. For this week’s article as well as mynext article, we are going to consider these twopremises. Premise #1: 2 Timothy 3:16,17“The Bible is the Word of God” (Coping,Lloyd). Paul would write to young Timothysaying, “All scripture is inspired…
The Prophets: God’s Spokesmen, Part 1
What kind of man does it take to be chosen to be a spokesman for God? Out of 39 Old Testament books, 17 bear the name of a prophet. Apart from them, there are dozens of prophets who make appearances in Old and New Testament narratives who played their part in revealing the will of God. Despite the honor of the position, ordinary men were chosen to leave their current circumstances to become men of God, ready to deliver His…
Let the Beauty of Jesus be Seen in Me (Part 3)
Let the Beauty of Jesus be Seen in Me (Part 2) As followers of Christ whose goal is to radiate the beauty of Jesus, we must be obedient ourselves. Not only is obedience essential to inherit eternal life (Matthew 7:21), it is also necessary to display the beauty of Jesus. Jesus was obedient, so if I am not obedient, I am nothing like Jesus. Therefore, I cannot display His beauty in my life. The point seems simple enough, but why…
3 Things Being a False Witness Can Do
“The ends justify the means” and “A little white lie never hurt anyone” — these two clichés miss the obvious and contradict Almighty God. Proverbs 6:16-19 reveals seven things that the Lord hates. These abominations do not belong in the realm of moral ambiguity, yet man will run to defend them to some degree or another. James warns us about the tongue’s great potential to destroy, and John was told that “all liars” will have their part in the lake…