In Genesis 3:3-5, the serpent tells Eve the following: “But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat of it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.’” And the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God […]

Have you ever formed a negative opinion of another person based solely on what you heard others say? But then, after you met that person and got to know him (or her), you realized your previously formed opinion was not really accurate? Is it possible the same is true of death? People often have a […]

In Revelation 12:10-11, the inspired writer, John writes: “And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. And they […]

When my wife and I recently ate breakfast at one of our local restaurants, I wanted bacon instead of sausage, but the menu said “No substitutions.” Often when it comes to God’s will for our lives we desire our own way over His way. As a result, many have made substitutions in God’s arrangement of […]

I once heard of a preacher who was asked, “What kind of a preacher are you?” He replied, “A good one!” I dare say that the person asking the question did not expect such an answer. The only drawback to such a reply is that different people have different standards of good preaching. One preacher, […]

Gambling is very much a part of American life today (USA Today). Time Magazine has said gambling is among the “biggest and fastest growing commercial activities in the United States.” It has been estimated that illegal gambling takes in as much as $50 billion dollars every year. Add to this all the “legal gambling” (such […]

The Gospel in the NT is referred to in Acts 13:32 (KJV) as “glad tidings” and refers to the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 13:29-30,33-37; 1 Corinthians 15:1-4). According to “Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Old and NT Words,” (1981); p. 167-168, the word “Gospel” comes from the Greek (noun) word, […]

James gives us the definition of what pure religion is in James 1:27, “This is pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father, to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.” (NASV) Since God has stated that pure religion is essential to please […]

The Prophet Jeremiah made the following statement over 2,600 years ago in Jeremiah 10:23: “O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.” He realized that man, depending on his own wisdom, cannot adequately nor properly direct his spiritual life. […]

Generation follows generation – yet it lives. Nations rise and fall – yet it lives. Kings, dictators, presidents come and go – yet it lives. Hated, despised, cursed – yet it lives. Condemned by atheists – yet it lives. Scoffed by scorners – yet it lives. Exaggerated by fanatics – yet it lives. Misconstrued and […]

In Psalm 34:14, the Psalmist tells us regarding peace: “Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.” Unity in the church, the home, and the community are both “good and pleasant.” King David said, “Behold, how good and pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity” (Psalm 133:1). Christians are […]

In Galations 5:6, the inspired penman, Paul wrote: “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision; but faith working through love” (ASV). The above text teaches us that to “work through love” is to work from a principle of love. If we love God, we seek to please Him and to do His […]

One of the greatest difficulties in serving God in this country is the tendency toward complacency. In America, we are blessed with laws which protect us from persecution, and we are individually blessed with a wealth which exceeds almost any country in history. Even today, much of the world would be amazed at what we […]

The following questions may sound “strange”, but are they really? Let’s seriously think about these questions and take action to correct our thinking if we are guilty of any of these: 1) Isn’t it strange how a twenty dollar bill seems like such a large amount when we give to the work of the church, […]

It should thrill our soul to join with the children of God in singing His praises! (Revelation 19:1,4-6). We see, however, so many who claim to be Christians who are living contrary to the words of the songs we offer before our heavenly Father in praise. Do we really mean what we sing? Let’s consider […]

The following are some reasons why the Lord’s church needs to teach the principal purposes of the Old Testament today: 1) The examples of those who lived under the law were written for our learning (Romans 15:4; 1 Corinthians 10:11). 2) They “testify” to the Deity of Christ (John 1:45; Luke 24:44; Acts 10:43; Hebrews […]

What Does The Bible Indicate About Capital Punishment? Whenever an execution is imminent, the following questions are often raised: 1) Should capital punishment be acceptable in a civilized society? 2) Is it morally right for a government to administer capital punishment? 3) What is the purpose behind capital punishment, and is it accomplished? 4) How […]

This writer grew up on a country farm near Samnorwood, Texas back in the 40’s. We didn’t have many paved roads in those days. When it rained, we had to be very careful to keep out of ditches on both sides of the road. Often in trying to keep out of one ditch, it would […]

The following is a suggested formula for 2006: “H”old fast to the faith (1 Corinthians 16:13). “A”ssemble for worship (Hebrews 10:25). “P”ray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17). “P”urify your heart (James 4:8). “Y”ield not to temptation (1 Corinthians 10:13). “N”eglect not doing good (James 4:17). “E”xemplify Christ (1 Corinthians 11:1). “W”ork in the vineyard (John […]

1) Wake Up! Decide to have a good day. “Today is the day the Lord hath made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalms 118:24 2) Dress Up! The best way to dress up is to put on a smile. A smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks. “The Lord does […]