'February 2025' Tagged Posts

Music in the worship of the New Testament church is integral, beautiful, and unifying. When Christians join together as a congregation to sing words of praise and admonition with only our hearts and voices, God is glorified, and His people are greatly encouraged (cf. Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16). In order for our assemblies to unite in song, there should be a song leader (cf. 1 Cor. 14:26). Good song leaders make for great song services. When I was a student…

I have been blessed to receive many wonderful gifts from friends and family members. But sometimes the gifts we receive are not useful, good for us, or right for us at the moment, though perhaps it once was. The Hebrews writer made an interesting connection between God and our human fathers when he wrote, “God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten?” (Heb. 12:7). In Luke 11:11 Jesus asked, “If…

An important practice for lion tamers is to train big cats without relying solely on food. Overusing treats can create a dangerous expectation, as the lion may anticipate food at all times. Eliminating such temptation for the lion reduces the possibility of serious consequences, such as the lion tamer getting himself killed! This illustration highlights a valuable spiritual lesson for Christians. If we remove temptation in our own lives, it can help us avoid the consequences that often follow. Temptation…

In the wisdom literature of the Old Testament, Agur the son of Jakeh said, “Give me neither poverty nor riches” (Pro. 30:8). The various sufferings that accompany the poor are obvious, but what’s the danger of being wealthy? It seems Agur understood man’s tendency to turn blessings into a curse. Too many have seen the generosity of God in their life but have attributed it to their own genius and strength. Forgetting their Creator, they choose to place their trust…

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways (Jas. 1:5-8). There is…

You’re going to go for a doctor’s appointment next week and he’s going to tell you that you have irregular test results that might indicate cancer. You’re going to get in your car tomorrow morning, late for work, and the battery is going to be dead. Your sink will begin to drip, and it will keep you awake all night long. You’re going to get a headache behind your eye that will last for the rest of the day. Who’s…

The Book of James has been called “The Proverbs of the New Testament” because of its highly practical nature. Within it you will not find a detailed theological dealing with justification or God’s eternal purpose, but you will find an exposition of God’s will on a number of subjects and challenges which confront Christians the world over, on a daily basis. How do we handle trials? How do we control our tongues? How should we view wealth? How should we…