Christian Worker
From the Director’s Desk (April 2025) – Trent Kennedy
This is the time of year when we really get a clear view of next year’s incoming class. Currently, we have admitted 17 students to begin their studies in August of 2025. Two of those are foreign students, and their studies depend on the approval of the US Embassy. We also have three more students who are considering SWSBS. Whether it is 15 students, 20 students, or somewhere in between, this looks to be a very large class. This is…
How the Church Can Love Her Neighbor – Chris Willcut
If you were to ask a Jew in Jesus’ day what the greatest command of the law was, you would likely receive a variety of answers. Some might say the most important thing is consistent tithing, others might think about the many feasts to remember, and some might consider the dietary restrictions the most important command of the law to keep. However, when a Jewish lawyer asked Jesus this question, He told this man, “‘You shall love the Lord your…
Gospel Parallels: Law and Grace – Dave Rogers
Many years ago I attended an area-wide meeting of preachers where a brother presented his beliefs about law and grace. He contended that God’s law and His grace effectively cancel out one another; that we can be subject to law or grace, but not both. This is a common doctrine in protestantism, with deep roots in John Calvin’s assertion that God’s grace is “irresistible” (that is, God chooses who receives His grace, and no person can “do” anything to affect…
Faith without Works is Dead (Jas. 2:14-16) – Bill Burk
The word “belief” or “faith” serves as a synecdoche; each stands as a part of the whole. “I believe in Jesus,” when said genuinely, is the most essential claim a person can ever make. To say that one is saved by faith means that at some point, he obeyed the gospel (Rom. 10:16; 2 Thess. 1:6-10; 1 Pet. 4:17). Having heard it (Rom. 10:17), he believed it (Rom. 1:16), repented of sin (Luke 13:3; Acts 17:30), and was baptized into…
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…
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…
Be a Doer of the Word (Jas. 1:22-25) – Kerry Clark
In James Chapter One, James gives us several imperatives – be swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger (v. 19); he also gives another imperative in verse twenty-two, “be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only.” In every English translation I considered, the word “doer” seemed to be the unanimous consensus of the translators. The word in the Greek is remarkably interesting, it is the word from which our English word “poet” comes from. In…
Hear The Word (Jas. 1:9-20) – Ronnie Scherffius
The book of James is one of the most practical books of the New Testament. Though he does treat such profound matters as the perfection of faith by works (2:14-26), James especially addresses practical matters of the faith. Topics such as enduring trials (1:1-6), living the Christian life without partiality (2:1-13), and controlling the tongue (3:1-10) are a few examples. The practical nature of James is also demonstrated in its similarities to the wisdom literature of the Old Testament, particularly…
Receiving God’s Word (Jas. 1:21)
When we hold a Bible in our hands, we hold the most potent force and most powerful weapon humanity will ever know. God’s Word has the ability to accomplish more good than anything or anyone on earth could ever imagine. The most hardened sinner, the most doubtful skeptic, or the most hate-filled heart can be transformed by the power of Scripture (2 Cor. 10:3-5). But in order for God’s Word to bring about change in our lives we must do…