Church Blog (Page 3)

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…

To encourage a young preacher named Timothy, the Apostle Paul wrote, “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15). His wise counsel remains as relevant today as it was then. Christianity is a learned religion. To be a faithful disciple, studying God’s Word is essential. A key area that should be included in one’s efforts to increase their knowledge of Scripture is…

Did you know that over 40% of the Bible is narrative? When studying the Bible we need to treat apocalyptic literature like what we find in the book of Revelation or Ezekiel differently than an epistle like Colossians or 1 Peter. We have to consider the differences between a work of poetry in the Psalms and a Persian official’s letter in Ezra. We want to read to understand what God has given us in His word so we must take…

Throughout the Bible, God communicates with people through words (Gen. 1:28). Words, and our ability to reason with them, are how God intended people to learn His ways (Isa. 1:18). Whether orally spoken to the prophets, passed down in conversation with descendants, written down as Scripture, or preached from the mouths of saints and evangelists, people are meant to hear and learn through the preaching of the Gospel (Heb. 1:1–2; Deut. 6:3–4; Exod. 24:12; 2 Tim. 4:2). When studying preaching…

This week our brother Jerry Hill will head to prison for things he was a part of before he left the depths of addiction and became a Christian. He will need our support, our encouragement, our letters, and our prayers (James 5:16). We hope and pray that his time in prison is short. After a few months of mandated prison ministry, we expect Jerry to be back preaching in Spicewood and worshipping with us from time-to-time at SW. When we…

Poetry often presents itself as a picture. These pictures help us not only to think logically about truth, but to “see”, “feel”, “smell”, or even “taste” it. Some pictures are more pleasant than others, and the one given in Proverbs 26:11 is, well,… disgusting. Proverbs 26:11 says, “Like a dog that returns to its vomit is a fool who repeats his folly” (NASB 95). Let us consider this simile for a moment. Do you have a dog? I want you…

Walking through life is sweet when you’re walking with work that matters, cherished loved ones, family, a sense of purpose, etc. But if you do not walk with God none of the above matters. Christians enjoy the spiritual blessing Paul described as “newness of life” (Rom. 6:4). It’s a life that truly fulfills. We have been richly blessed to study topics and passages relevant to the theme this past weekend at the 9th annual Arise Spiritual Growth Workshop. We have…

Your environment matters. Who you spend your time with can significantly impact the direction of your life. Consider a smoker, for example. According to the American Cancer Society, two of the most common reasons individuals begin smoking are because their parents or their peers smoke. The desire to fit in with friends or to imitate someone admired influences desire, and desire influences behavior. The point is simple: your environment can impact your behavior. This does not mean our environment excuses…

“The ends justify the means” and “A little white lie never hurt anyone”— these two cliches 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 of…

At the writing of this note, we are in our second week of the third quarter of the school year. Our Arise Workshop is rapidly approaching—February 26th to March 1st. In conjunction with the Workshop, Rob Whitacre will conduct a “blitz week” on the subject of Evangelism. We have the largest first-year class in our history of forty-eight years. Sixteen students fill the class from young to not so young—which makes for an interesting dynamic. Some students are a year…

I t was a young shepherd boy who proclaimed the words, “the battle is the Lord’s” as he stood face to face with a giant (1 Sam. 17:47). In a valley full of fear, crowded with concern, and packed with panic, those five words were just what the nation of Israel needed. Certainly, David’s statement was one of courage and conviction, but it was also one of great faith. While the king, the nation, and David’s own brothers were greatly…

The young shepherd boy who slayed a giant and fought the Philistines now has a target on his head. The king who once loved the boy from Bethlehem became jealous of the rising star and ordered his execution. Throughout Saul’s pursuits, David not only evaded Saul but also had the opportunity to kill the king and take the target off his back. Yet David takes a route that is quite unexpected. In 1 Samuel 24, David and his mighty men…