Church Blog (Page 23)

Church Blog (Page 23)

Jesus, Our Savior: Part 1

He was not born into the most prestigious family. He was not a particularly handsome man, nor was He very popular in His hometown. His closest friends were fishermen, and He spent much of His time with the sick and outcast of society. He was a sorrowful man who was rejected by His own people. He was loved by many but hated by most, and He was abused and brutally murdered by His enemies. Yet, He was the greatest man…

Everyone is a Critic

It is easy for one to be critical of another. We often assign motive or blame for words spoken or actions taken. We easily see the shortfalls of someone else and point out all their weaknesses. The trouble is that we almost always tend to minimize our own faults while exalting those of others. Jesus warned against this very action in Matthew 7:1-5. A vital point of understanding in this context is to recognize that Jesus did not condemn criticism…
Galaxy in space textured background

The Science Against Itself – Pat McIntosh

If we were to discuss creation and the existence of God with a friend who believed in the Bible, we would turn to obvious biblical passages such as Gen. 1:1 and John 1:1-3. Those passages clearly reflect the existence of God and the roles of the Godhead in the creation process. The very first verse of the Bible clearly affirms the existence of God. The remainder of the Bible is built upon and substantiates that opening affirmation of God’s existence.…
mountain landscape

He Came Down From The Mountain, But Not The Cross – Tom Wacaster

If the Sermon on the Mount were all that Matthew recorded, that small piece of inspired literature would declare the very majesty of the One Who spoke those words. The sermon now complete, our Lord leaves the mountain to enter His market place. The very first words we encounter as we enter the eighth chapter of Matthew capture our attention: “And when he was come down from the mountain” (8:1). Strictly speaking those half dozen English words describe His descent…
Children are playing on meadow

What Wouldn’t You Do For Your Kids? – Jordan Moore

Every parent’s worst nightmare is to lose their precious child. As expected, any devoted parent would do whatever it took to save their child: climb a mountain; cross a raging river; dive to the depths of the ocean. If it meant dangling from a cliff, gripping the child with one hand to keep them from falling- they would try. Were a parent to discover a climbing ropae and carabiners, would they not certainly use them in their cliff-side rescue? If…
Lightbox with text Thank You

How to Give Thanks

How does one express gratitude for an overwhelming gift? When the words “thank you” do not seem adequate, how can a person sincerely express their appreciation? Confronted with the same conundrum, the Psalmist put inspired pen to paper to answer this very question. Psalm 116 is a psalm of praise and thanksgiving to the Lord for His abundant benevolence. The Psalm can be divided into two parts¬–what God had done for the writer (vss. 1-11) and the writer’s response (vss.…
Coronavirus Covid-19 cell. Covid, covid19 pandemic.

“I Can’t Come To Church Because Of Covid” – Neal Pollard

Covid has touched nearly every family I know, including my own. It would be foolish to say that it is harmless. It has claimed nearly 5 million lives as of today. So, I have heard from many good, thoughtful people, this statement: “I can’t come to church because of Covid.” Please accept that with deep, genuine love, there are a few questions that need to be asked alongside of this. Are we being consistent? Are we still going to the…

Glorifying God with our Speech (Part 2)

If we are to glorify God in our speech then we must also be mindful of the power of our words to accomplish both good and evil. “Death and life are in the power of the tongue and those who love it will eat its fruit” (Pro. 18:21). The classic text on the tongue’s power is James 3:1-12 where James personifies the tongue as a bit in a horses mouth, a ship’s rudder, and fire. Note verses 5-6: Even so…

Glorifying God with our Speech (Part 1)

One of the more disturbing societal trends of late is the degradation of acceptable speech. A person could scroll through any social media news feed and see a barrage of language which would have shocked and disgusted most in years past, but today is so common that many think nothing of it. However, though the world’s standard of acceptable speech may change, God’s standard does not. The psalmist best captured the essence of God’s expectation for our speech when he…

Some Reasons to be Thankful

Christians are commanded to give thanks in everything (1 Thess. 5:18). November is the time of year when many people pause to reflect and show gratitude. Christians should do the same, but not just for one month out of the year. God has given us much to be thankful for. Here are three items for your consideration. First, God’s providential care. Simply stated, providence refers to provision. Consider the various ways in which God provides for His people. Spiritually speaking…

An Unpayable Debt

How does one repay an unpayable debt? To ask is to answer. An unpayable debt is by definition impossible to repay. Such a proposition may seem discouraging to some. If I can never fully satisfy my obligation, then why try at all? But this is not the proper attitude and it was not the mindset of the apostle Paul. As he reflected upon the sacrifice of Christ and his responsibilities as an apostle and minister of the gospel, Paul wrote,…
Church Candle in Candlestick Burning in Dark

Light in a Dark World – Troy Spradlin

The disciples of Jesus Christ are described in various ways throughout the New Testament through the use of analogies and metaphors. Some of these include words like, “sheep,” “little children,” and “saints.” The purpose of these terms is to provide depictive imagery concerning how a Christian should live. Perhaps, one of the most descriptive metaphors is the term, “light.” For example, in Matthew 5:14-16, Jesus said “You are the light of the world. … Let your light so shine before…