The Problem With Prejudice (Jas. 2:1-7) – Neal Pollard
When one continues reading James’ letter and comes to what we know as chapter two, he is confronted with three key words of the letter–brethren, faith, and judgment. The judgment words may be more subtle, depending on translation. In the NASB 95, one finds “made distinctions” (4), “judges” (4), and “court” (6). All are forms of κρινω (KRINO), meaning to pass judgment upon someone or something. That, by very definition, strikes at the heart of what prejudice involves. Some form…
Fulfilling the Royal Law (Jas. 2:8-13)
Love your neighbor as yourself. The command is simple enough to understand but, as is evidenced so often by our failure to do it, sometimes difficult to obey. There are several reasons why this could be the case. Perhaps the culprit is laziness. Love requires action and we are sometimes too lazy to put forth the effort. Sometimes it’s selfishness. Love requires sacrifice but occasionally we are too selfish to give anything. But sometimes it’s prejudice. We may look at…
Let’s Build a Tower (Luke 14:28)
For which one of you, when he wants to build a tower, does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if he has enough to complete it? (Luke 14:28, NASB 95) Speaking concerning discipleship, Jesus asked this both rhetorical and logical question. As the large crowds followed Jesus, many wanted to be His disciples. However, following Jesus has a cost, and it is not cheap. In a time when the miracles of Jesus sparked great emotion and…
Greater than Gold
The 19th Psalm is one of the most memorable in the Psalter. The first 6 verses magnificently describe the general revelation of God in nature. It calls us to behold and stand in awe of the creative genius of Jehovah as we see His fingerprints all around us. But the God who created has also commanded, and this theme is taken up in the next portion of the Psalm (vss. 7-11). Note how God’s Word is described (vss. 7-9). The…
The Prosperity of the Blessed Man (Psalm 1:1-3)
Do you want to prosper in this life? There are few if any that would say no to a question such as this one. Of course we want our lives to thrive! But how…? How can we walk through a world full of sin, death, pain, and suffering? Psalm 1:1-3 provides us a two-step process that leads straight to a blessed and prosperous life. Step #1: Avoid the slippery slope of sin. One of the scary characteristics of sin is…
Stop Chasing Bubbles!
I have 3 children who are all very different– each one with his own unique personality, equipped with very specific likes and dislikes. But as different as they may be, there are some things they have in common. One, in particular, is a love for playing with bubbles. We’ve spent countless hours in our back yard with wands, machines, and every kind of bubble gadget imaginable watching them laugh and play, chasing bubbles all around the yard. It’s incredible how…
Mind Monsters
Fear and anxiety… two monsters of the mind that sometimes seem impossible to overcome. These are emotions that we will likely all face at some point in our lives, but how do we deal with them? How do we cope? In Isaiah 41:10, God would say, “Do not fear… Do not anxiously look about you…” These are two simple commands, but how does one obey them? In the same verse, God gives five promises to His people. Keeping this verse…
4 Pillars in Times of Change
Change is the only constant in life. Presidents come and go and culture shifts in different directions. Accidents happen, illness comes unexpectedly, children are born, and parents pass away. Elderships change, members move away–preachers too–deaths and births occur, and congregational dynamics shift. As we often sing, “Time is filled with swift transition.” So, how do we navigate those transition? By holding fast to that which does not change. The first chapter of Joshua chronicles a time of change for the…
Our God is a Gardener
When one meditates upon who God is, there are many titles, adjectives, and descriptors that may come to mind. According to the pages of Scripture, our God is a God of War (Exodus 15:3), He is a Shepherd (Psalm 23:1), and He is a Refuge (Psalm 46:1). There are many characteristics that could be attributed to God, but did you know He is a gardener? In Genesis 2:8, the Bible says, “The LORD God planted a garden…” (NASB 95). In…
From the Director’s Desk (March 2025) – Steven Lloyd
The school is doing well. Our students, overall, are doing well. It is hard to believe we are at the close of our third quarter, entering the final quarter of the school year, and graduating students at the end of June. The incoming first year class is shaping up well with twelve students already approved and raising support. Three women will be among them, and a brother from Mexico is making every effort to be here as well. Most of…
“Religion” Isn’t a Bad Word (Jas. 1:27) – Jordan Moore
“Give me Jesus, but not religion.” This popular refrain is pervasive in the denominational world, and increasingly in churches of Christ. A Sister once rebuked me after a sermon for saying that Christianity is the one true religion (John 14:6). She alleged, “Christianity isn’t a religion, but a relationship.” Sadly, she 1) misunderstood the biblical term, “religion” and 2) overlooked or never read James 1:27. Let’s consider it… “Religion…” Some think it is, but “religion” isn’t a bad word. As…
Our Religion and Our Words (Jas. 1:26) – Adam Orr
Is it possible to have religion that is worthless in the eyes of God? Surely, He would be pleased with someone the world viewed as ‘good, moral, and religious,’ wouldn’t He? The answer plainly given in James 1:26 is that it is entirely possible to have a religion that displeases God. The Bible says in this verse, “If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless.” Here are…