March 5th, 2003 In response to your thoughts, I would first say that Galatians 6:10 is not the only passage with which I am going to deal to establish my case. However, I would like to point out a small fallacy in your reasoning. Now, if I am misrepresenting what you are saying, then I […]

(Author’s note: This is my part of an e-mail discussion with a non-institutional brother on the subject of whether the church has Bible authority to give to non-saints. The discussion occurred by e-mail in February and March of 2003. It was an informal discussion in that there were no stated propositions upon which we were […]

Recently a wonderful lady whom I have gotten to know in my work here at Berryville posed this question to me. I appreciate this question and thought that it would be a good subject of a bulletin article as there is great misunderstanding in the religious world today regarding pastors. When we look in the […]

The Bible speaks of only one church. Jesus said in Matthew 16:18, “Upon this rock, I will build my church.” The first congregation of that church was established in Jerusalem in 30 A.D. Persecution came upon that congregation (Acts 8:1) and new congregations sprang up all over Palestine. After the gospel was given to the […]

Recently I noticed an advertisement on the television-an advertisement for beer-in which Budweiser, a well known brewer of alcoholic beverages boasted that alcohol related deaths had decreased by 36% in the past year. They claimed that this decrease was due to the designated driver program and encouraged individuals to participate in this program and drink […]

In discussing the differences between the Christian and the worldling, Paul writes, “Be ye angry, and sin not…” (Ephesians 4:26). This is a quotation from Psalm 4:4 where both the King James and the American Standard Versions read “Stand in awe, and sin not…” Moreover, the American Standard Version mentions in a footnote that “Stand […]

Please note: This article requires the use of the TekniaGreek font. Download it here. Summary1 The Acts 2:41 argument on the personal indwelling of the Holy Spirit is not as impregnable as supposed. Recent studies conducted by the author in the Greek New Testament shed additional light upon the construction of the sentence from which […]

We wish we knew! It is a modern-day phenomenon, but not just confined to our time. Some generations ago, one of the first missionaries to South America turned out to be the best-known and highest-ranking Pentecostal preacher in his land. Not two weeks ago we heard from an American brother in Korea, and his words […]

It is in the last ten years or so that we have been hearing more and more of the brethren speak of “our being sinners” just as those in sectarianism are sinners. But, the point being made, as has been demonstrated over and over again, is that we have no right to call anything error, […]

Surely one of the most effective, and most scriptural, arguments the saints have made down through the years is that of the authority of the SILENCE of the scriptures. In hundreds of debates with proponents of every kind of error, audiences were shown that when God legislates in a certain area, making clear his requirements, […]

A local newscaster, some time back, was lamenting the fact that many needs that people have are not being met. She pointed out that civil authorities are taxed to the limit, and that those agencies who operate to relieve those on the streets are also working to their limits. She was trying to express that […]

The day called “New Year’s Day” has no religious significance, being just another mark of time on the calendar. However, many in the world look at the day, and think of “beginnings,” and on that note plan some renewal, some change, some correction, which they hope they’ll be able to carry forth on throughout the […]

Some time back, we began the procedure that once was a “standard” thing in most congregations: counting the number of daily Bible readers. It is one of the matters fixed firmly in my mind from childhood, as then a good brother, after the classes, would give announcement regarding the attendance and the number of daily […]

One’s own personal and individual accountability before God is indeed a weighty matter to consider, and even if other men did not enter the picture, the subject would be serious enough. But, influence being what it is, our relationships with others, and our living before others, means that our responsibility is greater. We dare not […]

One of the wonderful things about such a fine lectureship as we’ve just concluded is the great benefit that extends beyond the week of lectures. We learned and we grew during the week as the lectures were presented, and we added to all of that in our examination of the lectureship book. Beyond that, there […]

It was Paul who declared that the gospel is the power of God unto salvation (Romans 1:16). It was Paul who declared that the saints are engaged in a spiritual conflict – against spiritual wickedness (Ephesians 6:12). And it was Paul who describes the Christian’s armor and equipment, and pointed to the Christian’s weapon: “The […]

We all have heard it said many times down through the years, and it is always a disappointing thing. It should never be said by a child of God! He/she was added to the church by the Lord himself (Acts 2:47) upon obedience to the gospel. Wherever that Christian goes, duty demands placing membership with […]

We’ve just had to say that concerning an activity planned for the Austin area, with at least some congregations in the area actively participating in the event. The spearheading is from a congregation to our south, and the topic area is indeed worthwhile. But, involved in the activity will be those known to be men […]

The charge was, “You can’t find where the congregation’s funds were to used except for the needy!” Well, the fellow was wrong. In I Corinthians 16:1, introducing the matter of giving, Paul laid down the foundational teaching: Each give, on the first day of the week. And, he laid it in the context of the […]

“Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. but whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 10:32-33). Among the several ways in the New Testament by which proper response to God, and […]