How Can I Make a Difference?
Did you know that God’s people are supposed to be difference makers? We are supposed make a difference for good. We are to have a positive effect on society. As Jesus began the great Sermon on the Mount, he began with the section we generally call “the Beattitudes.” This section is then followed up by a lesson on our influence, where He speaks about being the salt of the earth and the light of the world. One of the things…
Sanctify the Home
To some, the idea of sanctification is complicated and steeped in religious rhetoric. However, the Biblical idea is very simple. “Sanctification” as a New Testament term has its roots in the word for “holy,” a word that is founded upon the Old Testament ideas of religious purification. To be sanctified is to be set apart for God’s use, as the items of the sanctuary under the Law of Moses. For families today, I wonder what would happen if we applied…
A Desire for Godly Homes
When Joshua addressed the nation, he heavily implied that a strong nation begins with the home (Josh 24:15). Many of the societal issues today can be attributed to the deterioration of the home, shining a light on its important. God established the home in the Garden of Eden (Gen 1:27-28), and it has proven to the foundational pillar of society. The importance of godly homes has not diminished, and is as necessary today as it has ever been. An adherence…
What Will Motivate You to Remain Faithful?
As the Apostle Paul closed out his 2nd inspired epistle to the brethren at Thessalonica, he gave them two final motivations to remain faithful to the Lord despite heavy persecution in and around Thessalonica. Today, these same two motivations can serve as great reminders for us as we strive to remain faithful in the 21st century. He completes the letter with the following words, “Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means. The Lord be…
The First Three Truths of an Educated Mind
There is a God. Something exists (the universe), therefore something always was, because from nothing comes nothing. If nothing is what always existed, then nothing got to work and created something! But what rational person can believe that? Further, what had always existed was either mind or matter. There are no other possibilities. If it was matter that had always existed, then in time matter either created or evolved into mind (intelligence). Who can believe that? The reality is that…
Things About the Church of Christ That Surprise People
Due to a strict emphasis on following only the Bible (rather than a mixture of Scripture and tradition), the church of Christ differs from other religious groups. Often people are pleasantly surprised-even refreshed-to learn these differences. The church of Christ does not tithe. Who could count the times someone has exclaimed, “You mean the church of Christ does not tithe?!” They have always been taught that tithing was a part of every church’s doctrine and are surprised to learn that…
Lessons Learned from James 5
James is a manual for Christian living – a so-called “How To” to spiritual success. At times referred to as the “Proverbs of the New Testament,” James provides a very practical approach to living a life in accordance to God’s Word. The departing chapter of this book leaves the prepares the audience with the expectation God has for His people when He eventually returns. James closes with an word of warning and exhortation, culminating in the love the brethren should…
Interesting Facts About the Bible
About forty men were engaged in the writing of the Bible, during a period of about 1600 years — that is, from 1500 B.C. to about A.D. 100. These men wrote as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. 2 Pet. 1:21. They wrote not in words of human wisdom, but in words divinely taught. 1 Cor. 2:13. The Bible contains 3,566,480 letters, 773,746 words, 31,102 verses 1,189 chapters, and 66 books. The Old Testament contains 39 books; the New…
Life Has Always Been in the Blood
Isn’t it just that red fluid that is circulating through the body? From a simplified physical point of view, that might suffice as an answer for a three-year-old child. But having an understanding of blood, especially the spiritual significance that the Bible gives to it, can enhance our appreciation for God’s eternal scheme and deepen our love for the Lord. As the death of the firstborn in Egypt was announced by Moses to the children of Israel, God promised that…