You Should Have Seen What Happened at Church on Sunday
The view from the pulpit is often interesting. People are so used to watching unresponsive TV & computer screens that they forget preachers can see them! After a while, the unexpected becomes commonplace, & he is able to keep his composure though ‘the walls come tumbling down.’ When Christians gather for worship on the Lord’s Day, something special happens. Their common bond is strengthened as in concert they pour out their gratitude to their Savior. It is a time of…
Receiving God’s Word
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…
Questions About Jesus’ Return
One of the fundamental teachings of the Scriptures is that one day Jesus is going to return. During His earthly ministry, Jesus informed His Apostles that He would leave them, but He also told them that He would return (John 14:1-6). Just prior to His ascension into Heaven, Luke records the following statement, “And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked…
Oh the B-I-B-L-E
What if you were to go to the local bookstore and tell the sales associate that you are looking for a book that is filled with history, science, wisdom, poetry, can help with marriage, raising children, solving problems, and salvation from sin, just to name a few things. They might compile for us several books. Did you know that there is one book that contains all of this information? The Bible. The Word of God contains for us the most…
The Right Place at the Right Time
In Jesus, disciples have peace and good cheer (John 14:1; 16:33). God’s blessings have often been restricted to specific locations: Peace, spiritual prosperity, and safety are where God placed them—in the church (Ephesians 1:3; 3:21; Psalm 122:7). Being in Christ is synonymous with being a member of His church (Galatians 3:26–27; Ephesians 1:22-23; 4:4). Some of the blessings found “in Christ” (a phrase Paul used 169 times) include the following: Since all spiritual blessings are in Christ, and none outside…
I Cannot Be Saved Like the Thief on the Cross
Many people look to the thief on the cross next to Jesus as an example of how to be saved today. Is this reasonable in light of scripture? Can I be saved like the thief on the cross? We don’t know a lot about this man who joined Jesus in paradise on the day of His crucifixion (Luke 23:43). Jesus obviously forgave the thief’s sins but unanswerable questions abound. Had he believed in Jesus before this interaction? Was he present…
A Stench That Should Wake Us Up
From inside the belly of a great fish, “Jonah prayed to the Lord” (Jonah 2:1). Wouldn’t you? As he “cried out to the Lord” (2:2), Jonah realized, “I have been cast out of Your sight” (2:4). Why? What could have happened to lead Jonah out of God’s sight? Back up into the first chapter. When God commanded Jonah to “go to Nineveh” (1:2), “Jonah arose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord” (1:3). He got on a…
The Blessings of Friends and Family
It is truly a blessing to be part of a loving family. In like fashion, it is a great blessing to have dear friends. Sadly, not everyone knows what it feels like to be part of such things. All too often, we take our family and friends for granted. If you are so blessed as to have good friends, thank your heavenly Father. If you are so blessed to have a loving earthly family, thank your heavenly Father. If you…
Guard Your Hearts
The Bible instructs us to guard our hearts (Proverbs 4:23). That means we need to be very careful of who and what we choose to listen to (2 Timothy 2:16-17) and communicate with (1 Corinthians 15:33). In His Word, God gives us instructions on how to do this (Proverbs 4:24-27; 1 Corinthians 15:34; Philippians 4:6 9; 2 Timothy 2:14-16, 22-23; James 1:21-22). We must heed God’s warning and do all that we can to keep our hearts pure. God wants…
Barriers to Heaven
There are roadblocks and obstacles on the road to heaven that ensnares many people through the years. These barriers must be removed, or the golden street of Glory will be missed by millions of casual pilgrims who stumble along the way. Everyone talking about heaven will not see the gates of that eternal City. We need to be prepared as we struggle with the devious ways of the world and the pernicious doctrines of demons (1 Tim. 4:1). Satan has…
Meditating on God’s Word
Old Testament prophets who were receiving a divine commission to preach were often told to “eat” God’s word. Men like Jeremiah (Jer. 15:16), Ezekiel (Eze. 2:8-10), and John (Rev. 10:9-11) all “ate” God’s word before delivering God’s vital message to people. Even today, we need to realize the transforming power of the word of God (Rom. 1:16). When we “eat” all of His words, they become part of us, and our lives become living translations of His divine will (Phil.…
What Did Jesus Say About Marriage?
For many years, marriage and the home has been under fire in our society. As God’s people, it is imperative that we have a good, basic understanding of what the Bible says about marriage. Consider the following message from Jesus about marriage… Marriage Was Designed By God. In Matthew 19, the Pharisees have come to Jesus, and they have some questions on their mind about the subject of marriage, especially in regards to divorce and remarriage. As Jesus lays the…