Keep the Church Pure – Johnny Ramsey
I once heard an aged brother pray these words: “Lord, help us to keep the spiritual body of Christ as pure as he kept his physical body.” This statement, coming from a grand old soldier of the cross, has lingered in my memory for many years now. It is challenging and thought-provoking to every member of the body of Christ. We should all pray: “Lord, help us to keep the church pure.” The very fact that the New Testament depicts…
Speaking the Truth in Love – Thomas B. Warren
Each of us must strive to be loyal to Jesus Christ, and it is certainly clear that no man can be loyal to Him if he does not love Him and his fellowman (Matt. 22:37-38). However, it is very easy for any one of us to become unbalanced in our response to His teaching. It may be that one observes others who, it seems, in giving too much emphasis to doctrine, give too little ‘emphasis to love and, in reaction…
None of These Things Move Me – Joey Davis
If you ever needed an example of what it looks like to maintain Christian commitment and focus, Paul certainly fits the bill. In the face of adversity, Paul said, “but none of these things move me” (Acts 20:24a). More on that later. For now, think about how often things happen that make you second-guess your commitment. Think about times when you have felt like throwing your hands in the air and saying, “that’s enough, I quit!” Have you been there?…
A Great Debt – Ronnie Scherffius
There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most? Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged” (Luke 7:41-43). The book of Luke has many unique characteristics. For example, Luke writes on the subject…
A Good Look in the Mirror
Many years ago the founding fathers of this nation envisioned a society unparalleled and unrivaled by any in the annals history. They saw a country in which people of varying cultural backgrounds and religious faiths could live together harmoniously, united under one American ideal–freedom. Thus the motto emblazoned on The Great Seal of the United States, E Pluribus Unum–out of many, one. Sadly, we have learned throughout our short history that maintaining that sense of national unity is extremely difficult.…
The Stony Soil
As Jesus went about preaching the gospel of the kingdom of heaven, He did not always find a receptive audience. The problem He faced was that many people were “hard of hearing” (Matt. 13:14-15). To illustrate this problem, Jesus told “The Parable of the Four Soils.” In it, we can see ourselves as we really are concerning how we receive the Word of God in our lives. Therefore, let’s consider the second one, the stony soil (Matt. 13:5-6). According to…
A Change in SWSBS Directorship
As elders, we realize that the fields are “white unto harvest” and that many good, honest people are seeking to be taught God’s Word. Therefore, faithful men and women who are well prepared with a deep knowledge of the Biblical text are urgently needed to sow the seed of God’s Kingdom (Luke 8:11). The Southwest church of Christ, aware of this need and understanding our responsibility to help meet it, inaugurated a full-time school of Bible studies on September 4,…
The Thorny Soil
As Jesus went about preaching the gospel of the kingdom of heaven, He did not always find a receptive audience. The problem He faced was that many people were “hard of hearing” (Matt. 13:14-15). To illustrate this problem, Jesus told “The Parable of the Four Soils.” In it, we can see ourselves as we really are concerning how we receive the Word of God in our lives. Therefore, let’s consider the first one, the thorny soil (Matt. 13:7). According to…
I Would Do It All Over Again
Winston Churchill’s wife was named Clementine. He affectionately called her Clemmie. Churchill wasn’t generally considered handsome. He wasn’t athletic. He wasn’t rich. He wasn’t the young man that most moms were dreaming of for their daughters. Clementine’s mother, Lady Blanche Hozier, wasn’t overjoyed at the thought of her daughter marrying Winston. But, despite Winston’s many shortcomings, he possessed the one essential ingredient needed to make marriage work – love. He loved Clementine. At a banquet late in life, Churchill was…
Doctrinal Agnosticism
An agnostic is “a person who holds the view that any ultimate reality is unknown and probably unknowable” (MW). Generally, the concept is applied to the existence of God. But the current time, sadly, requires us to slightly extend the term to “a person who holds the view that any ultimate doctrinal reality is unknown and probably unknowable.” Second Timothy 1:13 commands, “Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me….” To “hold” is to keep…
Does the First Century Church Exist? – Johnie Scaggs
The world we live in is very different from the 1st century. On every side, we are plagued with numerous denominations of every brand. These denominations have significantly impacted the minds of many members of the body of Christ. Through printed pages, television, media, Facebook, etc., they preach their sermons and pollute the minds of the innocent. “The number of denominations varies depending on how they are defined and counted. Some sources estimate more than 200 in the U.S. and…
Does Organized Religion Matter? – John Haffner
The term “organized religion” leaves a bad taste in the mouth for many people today. Perhaps this stems from the abuses and controversies which have recently plagued many religious groups. More and more people are utilizing the description “spiritual but not religious,” also sometimes known as “spiritual but not affiliated,” to denote their detachment. I believe this rejection of responsibility and accountability goes too far in many respects. More than just getting out from under manmade labels, conventions, and mother…