Christian Worker
From the Director’s Desk (July 2025) – Trent Kennedy
When we examine the ministry of Jesus, we see compassion as it was (and is!) meant to be practiced. The compassion of Jesus is seen the following verses: Matthew 9:35-38, Matthew 14:13-14, Matthew 15:32, Mark 1:41, Luke 7:12-14, Mark 9:22, Matthew 20:34. Jesus came unto his own (John 1:11), being made in flesh and blood (Heb. 2:14). This earthly ministry brought Him into contact with people who were desperate, needy, hurt, handicapped, and misguided. It brought Him to places where…
Gospel Parallels: Heaven and Hell – Dave Rogers
A study by Northwestern University about thirty years ago surveyed the beliefs of 500 denominational ministers and revealed some startling statistics: 59% believed heaven exists; 31% believed hell exists. At the time, roughly 77% of all Americans believed in heaven, but only 58% believed in hell. In a nation once characterized by a fierce fight to obtain freedom for religion, our culture now strives for freedom from religion. Various forces actively seek to eradicate knowledge of God and Christianity, and…
The Remedy For Conflict (Jas. 4:6-10) – Bryce Mayfield
The Book of James has been accurately described as the wisdom literature of the New Testament. Much like the Proverbs of the Old Testament, this book covers a variety of topics, and it is extremely practical for the New Testament Christian. In the context of James 4, we find ourselves right in the middle of conflict. James begins the chapter by asking, “What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you” (Jas. 4:1, NASB 95)? As he then writes…
The Fruit of Conflict (Jas. 4:4-5) – Josh Walker
Divided affection creates conflict. Compromise becomes comfortable and conviction wanes—peace vanishes, and something atrocious grows. The superior is traded for the inferior, and the sacred is exchanged for the common. What remains is hostility where love once lived and betrayal disguised as balance. The fruit of conflict is rotten. Spiritual Adulterers James does not introduce a foreign concept to his audience. Throughout the Old Testament, prophets used the imagery of adultery to chastise the children of Israel. For example, the…
Wars Without Come From Wars Within (Jas. 4:1-3) – Jordan Moore
In beauty pageants, “world peace” became a stereotypical (and sometimes satirized) answer to questions like, “if you could change one thing about the world, what would it be?” It’s an ideal everyone agrees on and no one really thinks that war is a good thing. Sure, there are people who use wars to their advantage, but everyone in their right mind sees the atrocities of war and rightfully concludes that the world is worse off because of it. So where…
Battle Fatigue
Guadalcanal Disorder, exhaustion, combat fatigue, shell shock; the Army wasn’t sure what to call it but they knew it was a major problem. Over 500,000 US Soldiers were lost due to “psychiatric collapse” during WWII. Men would shake and scream and stare emptily into the distance. Some would cry, some would run, some would wound themselves, some would desert, and some would take their own lives. Eventually an Army neurologist, captain Frederick Hanson, solved the problem. He recognized that a…
From the Director’s Desk (June 2025) – Trent Kennedy
June is a big month for us. We have completed Camp Hensel, papers have been written, exams have been taken, and sermons have been preached. June 29 is our formal graduation ceremony. Eight students will walk across the stage and move on to new opportunities and challenges in the Kingdom. Five of our graduates have been hired to serve in various ministry roles. Our ladies will take what they have learned and put it into practice right away by teaching…
Gospel Parallels: Salvation and Condemnation – Dave Rogers
The suggestion that someone will not experience everlasting peace and joy is distasteful and abhorrent to much of the world, but the Bible shows that some will be lost rather than saved. Without the prospect of condemnation, the very idea of salvation becomes absurd and pointless; the word loses all meaning and value if we have no possibility of missing it. Hebrews 9:27 declares that, “…it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment”. Though the…
Heavenly Wisdom (Jas. 3:17-18) – Kevin Cauley
Boys are naturally competitive. I have four of them. They are grown now, but when they were younger, they had daily conflicts. One was the battle for the front seat. “It’s my turn;” “No, it’s my turn,” was so routinely debated, you’d think it was congressional legislation. When one didn’t get his way, he would inevitably appeal to the supreme court with the cry: “Daaaad!” I never knew whose turn it was (Who’s got time to keep up with that?),…
Worldly Wisdom (Jas. 3:14-16) – Cody Kilgore
Acareful reading of James’ epistle reveals a shuddering concern for the inward man. Through this epistle, no less than thirty terms which are indicative of the inward man are employed. The prevailing caution toward the inward man might be eye-catching, but it should not be earth-shattering. Have we not been warned by the pen (Pro. 4:23) and the person of inspiration (Matt. 6:21-23) concerning the inward man? Has it not been impressed upon our minds that the inward man affects…
A Real Wise Man – Chase Green
Think about a scenario for a moment. If a teacher were to ask a Bible study class, “Who is the wisest and most understanding person in this room?” what would you think of someone who immediately raised his hand and waved it proudly in the air for all to see? This person may think he is the wisest, but in actuality, he may be one of the most foolish ones in the room. The reason for this is that true…
A Case in Point: Naboth’s Vineyard
Solomon counseled, “Get wisdom!” (Pro. 4:5), and how we ought to heed that admonition. James would have us know, however, that not just any wisdom will do. There is a kind of wisdom that “does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic” (Jas. 3:15). Literally, it is “earth bound,” “spiritually dead,” and “from hell.” This kind of thinking manifests itself in fruit like envy, selfishness, pride, deceit, confusion, and every kind of evil thing (Jas. 3:14, 16). It…