Last fall I was reading a book for missionaries to remind myself of some principles that might help me be an encouragement to our missionary to Romania. The book is titled Anthropological Insights for Missionaries by Paul Hiebert. Dr. Hiebert is not a member of the church of Christ; understand that. However, he is writing […]
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We sing each other’s songs
Recently, at an area-wide singing, I saw a sign displayed in the foyer of a rural congregation. It read as follows: “We sing each other’s songs.” For a moment, I could not figure out if the sign referred to song favorites, or if it was a figurative way of saying that the congregation had a […]
Bible-Based Parenting Teach Your Children to Take Responsibility for Themselves
First, the Bible: “Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much” (James 5:16). There is a joke I remember Dad using decades ago: When God rebuked Adam for his sin, he blamed Eve, and then […]
What Was Taken from the Jews?
Jesus makes a troubling statement in Matthew 13:12, “For to the one who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.” Jesus says this as a part of his response to the disciples’ question in v. 10, […]
The Greatest Inscription
A Roman politician wrote perhaps the greatest inscription ever written. As a prisoner marched to his execution, the Roman custom was to carry a sign before him so that all could know the man’s name and his crime. “Murderer” or “Thief” might precede the man. When Jesus was led away, Governor Pilate wrote the now […]
How Will They Believe?
Some denominations today teach a doctrine rooted in Calvinism, which holds that the Holy Spirit grants the gift of faith, enabling people to believe in the Gospel. This perspective suggests that faith is passive; it is not something we can achieve but rather something God does for us. However, the problem with this claim is […]
Heard Any Good Sermons?
In 1994, Ian Gregory launched a magazine called Pulpit. It was a publication designed to keep alive Britain’s tradition of great sermons and to act as a benchmark for where to hear good ones. The magazine would review the abilities of some of England’s 50,000 preachers, giving points to their pulpit performances calculated by anonymous […]
Stronger Together
Two are better than one, Because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, For he has no one to help him up. Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; But how […]
Religious Titles in the Church?
In Matthew 23:8-10 Jesus taught his disciples not to wear religious titles. Such titles were coveted by the Scribes and Pharisees, who wanted the praise of men. However, Jesus said that his disciples should not wear such titles of distinction, for they were “all brethren.” This is why we do not address our preachers with […]
“The Doomsday Clock”
In 1947 the world was introduced to “the Doomsday Clock”. It’s not an actual clock, but a vision of how close humanity is to “doomsday”. The end could come, according to the clock’s inventors (a group of atomic scientists), because of nuclear war, natural disasters, or pandemics. In 1947 the clock was set for 7 […]