Mel Gibson is one of the most famous actors and directors in Hollywood these days. His latest movie, The Passion of the Christ, has sparked interest, enthusiasm, and even controversy in many circles. Gibson, a conservative Roman Catholic, has reportedly portrayed the trial and execution of Jesus in a surprisingly stark and violent manner, and he undoubtedly…
It doesn’t take a great deal of investigation to realize that many recent influences both inside and outside of churches of Christ are feverishly attempting to mold God’s people into a different image. In recent years, those who have grown dissatisfied with the Lord’s church have often charged God’s people as being like the Pharisees…
Ninety-eight percent of American homes have at least one television. The average adult between the ages of 25 and 40 has watched between thirty and forty thousand hours of television. The average child watches 30 hours of television each week.1 Brethren, it is well past time that we examine the important implications of television where Christian living is concerned. What has…
John 3:16 is a magnificent and classic passage dealing with God’s grace and man’s salvation: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”Unfortunately, the meaning of this passage is often taken from its context and used to advance the…
“For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes (1 Cor 11:26).” Christians need to think about and take seriously the Lord’s Supper, observed upon the first day of every week. Nothing else we do as Christians can match the simple beauty and deep reverence…
Appetite is a personal decision. It is determined by self-examination and by focusing within. A child decides what to eat by the amount of pleasure the particular food will bring. Consequently, the foods high in fat are consumed while the broccoli and cabbage remain on the plate. When the child grows to be an adult,…
If you’ve been to any bookseller or movie store recently, you’ve probably noticed a new phenomenon: the “Left Behind” series written by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins. Presently, there are eight novels in the series along with nearly twenty, “children’s books,” and one feature film for those who are not such avid readers. And…
The church in the first century was faced with a unique problem: in the absence of God’s written word (the New Testament was not yet completed), how could they determine what was authoritative and what was not? In other words, how would they know someone’s spoken message was from God Himself? The answer: the ability…
One of the most hazardous jobs in the ancient world was to be a kerux (“herald” or “proclaimer”). The kerux was somewhat like a diplomat — he went into enemy territory ahead of his advancing army and attempted to avoid the coming conflict by demanding the immediate surrender of the enemy. If the enemy rejected the terms of surrender, the kerux would…
Satan and his cohorts in this world have greatly confused people concerning many Biblical terms. One such example concerns the Biblical distinction between preachers and pastors. This confusion is somewhat understandable because so many denominational preachers refer to themselves as “pastors.” Let it be known to one and all, once and for all: A Preacher is,…