Article (Page 16)

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…

With so many unique challenges before us it is easy to lose sight of what is really important. The Bible has a great deal to say about priorities and it is important for us to ensure that they are aligned correctly on an individual basis and also on a congregational basis. First Timothy 6 lists some items that the church must prioritize. Sound Doctrine (1 Tim. 6:3-5) –Those who do not concern themselves with sound doctrine are guilty of prioritizing…

Though he is only mentioned in two passages of scripture, much can be learned from the bad example of Diotrephes. John describes him as one “who loves to have the preeminence” (3 John 9). He spoke wickedly and maliciously, he would not receive faithful brethren, nor would he allow others to do so (3 John 10). He was, by all accounts and purposes, a church tyrant. He was arrogant, abusive, and wicked. His example should cause us to think twice…

In Philippians 1:3-8 we learn that Paul’s heart was full of affection and appreciation for each member of the church at Philippi, and that he was extremely grateful for their assistance in the progress of the gospel. We learn that the Philippian saints, like Paul, were devoted to the gospel’s progress, that they loved him, and that their faithfulness to him and his work was a long-term commitment. Paul’s habit (vss. 3-4) of continual thanksgiving evidences his great appreciation. The…

We have heard the word pandemic a lot over the past several months. A pandemic condition exists when disease indiscriminately spreads over an entire country or the world. The word comes from the Greek, Pan meaning, “all”, and the word demos meaning, “people.” A pandemic is no respecter of persons. It can affect both young and old, male and female. Worth considering is the difference between a pandemic and the plagues that struck Egypt in the days of Moses. Consider,…

The church of Christ is designed to be a united body (Eph. 2:14-16; 4:4-6). Unfortunately, the Devil has servants who try to disrupt that unity through false teaching and ungodly practices. In Romans 16:17-18 Paul provides instructions for dealing with such individuals.  First, there is the command to “note,” or pay close attention, to those who cause division, and “avoid” them, which indicates purposefully keeping away from them. The rationale for this command is fleshed out in 3 points. First,…