Church Blog (Page 2)

The account of the conversion of Saul of Tarsus, whom we know now as Paul the Apostle, is one of the greatest conversion stories and testimonies known to man. We first see this individual as a young zealous man, eager to destroy a fast-growing religious group called “The Christians” or “Jesus Followers.” Young Saul was no idiot. He was well-versed in the Law, studied at the feet of Gamaliel,  was a Hebrew of the Hebrews; as to the Law, was…

It is undoubtedly the most amazing “Rags to Riches” story of all time. We follow the descent of Jesus from heaven to earth to humility to humiliation to death and now, exalted to the highest place (Phil. 2:5-11). What’s more remarkable is that He shares the riches of His glory with us who at one time were the ones who put Him to death (Rom. 5:5-8; 2 Cor. 8:9). We are heirs together with Him. So many people are working…

An ordinary young woman who was soon to be married had her world turned upside down. It was from the moment that the angel of the Lord appeared to Mary that she knew her life was going to change. From that time strange things began to happen. She found that she was with child though she had not yet married Joseph nor “known” any man. She visited Elisabeth her cousin and upon her greeting Elisabeth’s child leaped in her womb.…

Have you ever heard someone say, “outside of a new car, most people do not like change?” Did you know there is a day coming when some big changes will take place? When the Apostle Paul penned his first inspired letter to Corinth he wrote about the idea of change. “Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed” (1 Cor. 15:51). Strong’s Bible Dictionary defines the word change as “to make…

I n part 1 we saw that culture cannot change the word of God. Instead, it meets the needs of every culture. God’s word lives and abides forever (1 Pet. 1:23). Culture is always changing, but God’s word remains the same. Even though the current culture cannot override God’s standard, it does have an impact on how we obey God’s law. Culture does impact the way a Christian applies God’s word. A good example of this is found in the…

There are few things more unpredictable and unstable than the ocean. In just minutes, it can change drastically. An earthquake may trigger a tsunami, storms can stir violent waves, and the tides shift daily because of the moon. The sea is restless because so many external forces affect it. This is the picture James is painting in James 1:6. When speaking about prayer, he writes, “But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is…

When I graduated from high school I had no doubt about what was considered popular. As a teenager I was “plugged in” to what pop culture had determined as the standard for what was acceptable dress, entertainment, communication, and behavior. As a naive adolescent I was shocked with how quickly new fads replaced my generation’s code of cool. As each year passed my favorites became old favorites. Undeniably we live in a world where culture is always changing and it’s…

Spring is a beautiful time of year. The earth awakens from its winter slumber, and life returns to what was once dormant. Trees turn green, flowers begin to bloom, and many begin preparing their spring gardens. Along with all the excitement this season brings, there is another simple delight: it is time to go fishing. Arguably, spring is one of the best times to catch fish. There is something special about waking up on a crisp spring morning, heading to…

Each year on the weekend of the first Sunday in March, the Southwest congregation hosts its Arise! workshop. This is a blessing and benefit to our congregation and the SWSBS student body. The study, singing, and social fellowship are hard to beat. One of the best parts of the Arise! weekend is the opportunity to spend time with alumni. Most SWSBS graduates work as local preachers. They have pulpit and evangelistic works that bless those churches whom they serve. But,…

“What is your favorite book or author?” This may have been a question you have been asked if you are a big reader or not. In one way, shape, or form, we can most likely answer this question as we have read a book that has left some impression on us, whether that is reading for leisure or out of obligation, such as an assigned reading in school. Our answers would reflect our preference for genre or author. This preference…

One of the great privileges of my life has been to be involved in various archaeological digs in Israel and Jordan. I have excavated at Khirbet Iskander in Jordan, Tel Rehov and Tel Beth Shemesh in Israel, and recently at Shiloh, where the Ark of the Covenant resided during Israel’s early history. This region is commonly called the Bible lands, or the Holy Land. I became interested in doing archaeology there because of the rich and helpful lessons it brings…

In his book, Words of Delight, Leland Ryken said, “… the ability to interpret poetry is a requirement, not an option, when we read the Bible” (pg. 160). Considering roughly one-third of the Bible is poetry, Ryken’s statement is absolutely true. There are 150 Psalms, 31 chapters of Proverbs, poetic prophecy sprinkled throughout the major and minor prophets, and poetry can even be found in the teachings of Jesus Christ and other places in the New Testament. If we want…