Article (Page 14)

Christians are commanded to “rejoice in the Lord always” (Phil. 4:4) but sometimes that can be difficult. It is helpful to remember the many reasons what we have for rejoicing. Here are three for your consideration. God’s providential care. Simply stated, providence refers to provision. Consider the various ways in which God provides for His people. Spiritually speaking He has provided “all things pertaining to life and godliness” (2 Pet. 1:3). We have redemption through the blood of Christ (Eph.…

Words are the most powerful weapon known to man. With them we can lift the spirits of the downtrodden, make someone feel loved and appreciated, or start wars and destroy relationships. Our words have a powerful impact on the church. Congregations can be torn apart by slanderous and vindictive speech and built up by words of encouragement and appreciation. This is behind Paul’s command in Ephesians 4:29 to let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is…

The latest estimates are that the world’s population is approximately 7.8 billion. That is 7.8 billion souls who face the ultimate reality of sin and its consequences (Rom. 3:23; 6:23). 7 billion souls who will one day face the Lord in judgment (Heb. 9:27); 7 billion souls who are precious in the sight of God (2 Pet. 3:9) and stand in need of the soul-saving message of the gospel. What are you doing to reach them? Romans chapter 10 teaches…

Then the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith (Acts 6:7). And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and turned to the Lord (Acts 11:21). But the word of God grew and multiplied (Acts 12:24). These passages, and others like them, in the book of Acts highlight the tenacious evangelistic commitment of the first…

Jesus said, “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you” (John 15:18-19). How should we deal with those who hate and fight against us? Two passages from the Sermon on the Mount are worthy of our consideration. First, consider Matthew…

It is difficult to study the Minor Prophets and not see America because the similarities between ancient Israel and the current state of affairs jump off the page. Consider for example, Micah 7:2: “The faithful man has perished from the earth and there is no one upright among men. They all lie in wait for blood; every man hunts his brother with a net.” Micah lamented the fact that there were seemingly no righteous people to be found. Instead, people…

Of all the responsibilities that accompany New Testament Christianity, worshiping God in spirit and in truth can be one of our more challenging endeavors (John 4:23-24). If we are honest with ourselves we will admit that we sometimes struggle to worship God the way we should. Just because your body is in the pew does not mean you are worshiping in spirit and in truth. We can be present at the assembly, but be spiritually absent. Our unwillingness to admit…

The emergence of the COVID-19 Corona virus has changed our world in a number of ways. Though hard to believe, wearing masks, standing in line to enter the grocery store, and toilet paper at a premium have all become part of daily American life. Part of this great change is the practice of social distancing. Health officials tell us that we can prevent contracting and spreading the virus by maintaining a distance of 6 feet from each other, refraining from…

Solomon said, “The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion” (Pro. 28:1). Scripture enjoins and illustrates the practice of boldness in the lives of Christians, but what exactly is it? Thayer defines the term as “freedom in speaking, unreservedness in speech; free and fearless confidence, cheerful courage, boldness, and assurance.” Note some examples of boldness in scripture. Boldness is seen in the courageous way the early church publicly proclaimed the Gospel. Acts 4:31…

Imagine this scenario: A new Christian begins learning about their congregation and realizes that it is a very cold and unwelcoming place. No one takes a real interest in them, answers their questions, or teaches them the fundamentals of the faith. The Bible class lessons and sermons are less than fulfilling, and the few members that actually spend a little bit of time talking to them are much less than spiritual. This may seem like a far-fetched possibility but the…

While in this world, Christians must engage in a constant struggle with the enemy. First Peter 5:8 says, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” Satan is a liar and a murder (John 8:44). Through various methods (Eph. 6:11) he seeks to tempt Christians (1 Thess. 3:5), exploit them (Eph. 4:26-27), lure them away from Christ (1 Tim. 2:14), and hinder the cause of the gospel (1…

The “give me” generation is bearing fruit at rapid pace. Indicators have been readily apparent for some time through various movements but in recent months the socialistic push has taken center stage in American news and culture. One result of this is a near demonization of work and ownership. On the one hand, we are sometimes led to believe that one who works hard and earns vast amounts of wealth is evil and should be forced to give it all…