“Like All the Nations…” Just as Samuel was heartbroken when Israel demanded a king (1 Sam. 8:5ff), so the Lord must also be heartbroken that so many of His people today look so much like the world. It’s human nature to want to fit in, to be accepted. I believe that the desire to be…
We are often too easily deceived regarding our own sins. For some reason, we don’t tend to believe we’re the ones the Bible is talking about when it says, “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23). It’s relatively easy to study the Bible or listen to a class and…
Throwing It All Away We can learn a lot from early man. I’m not talking about evolutionary theory or the supposed, “missing link,” I’m talking about Adam, the very first man. He, like all of us, was created in the image of God. Adam knew what it was like to walk and talk with God…
Is your heart right with God? Sadly, some Christians seem to have a form of godliness, but they deny its power (2 Tim. 3:5). One of the most frightening warnings of Scripture rebukes every self-satisfied Christian: “Let everyone who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall” (1 Cor 10:12). Thankfully, the Bible provides us…
Synagogues are mentioned throughout the New Testament, but curiously, there is virtually no mention of them in the Old Testament. A number of profitable truths can be gleaned from a historical and Biblical study of synagogues. The History of Synagogues — The first synagogues probably originated during the Babylonian captivity of 606-536 B.C. Enslaved Jewish…
Naaman was desperate. A great general in the Syrian army, he could ill afford to suffer the effects of the leprosy that had invaded his body. In fact, Naaman was ready to try anything to get his life back on track. Fortunately for Naaman, he was a man of considerable meekness. Meekness is merely power…
Our attitude toward God’s word affects every facet of our lives. Those who see the Bible as dense and confusing will likely be inconsistent in our living. Those who think the Bible is stale and dry will inevitably seek meaning from “more pleasurable” endeavors. Those who view God’s word as living and life-changing are the…
“Ministry” is a multi-faceted word that calls to mind faithful teaching, service to others, and a life of self-sacrifice. But have you ever thought about the “ministry” of studying the Word of God? An astronomical number of passages in the Bible speak of loving God’s word, writing it on our hearts, and meditating on the…
Understanding the Old and New Testaments — FAQ’s Some Bible answers to Frequently Asked Questions concerning the two Testaments… 1. Do members of the church of Christ believe in the Old Testament? Absolutely. While the Bible says all people today are under the Law of Christ (John 12:48), we still learn many great truths and…
The apostles were mystified. Jesus had a way of saying things that sometimes enlightened, sometimes rebuked, and sometimes bewildered them. On this particular occasion, the latter was the case. Here’s what the Lord had said: “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of…