A Pharisee who was a teacher of the Law asked Jesus, “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love…
What happens if a person dies before being baptized? Specifically, what if that person made it known that he wants to be baptized and was preparing, then died before his baptism? Such questions are usually asked during a discussion or debate about faith and works. Where do faith and works meet? Can faith justify purely…
A congregation is never stronger than when it’s united and never weaker than when it’s divided. Jesus talks about this principle in Matthew 12:25, not in the context of an individual congregation, but it’s certainly true of congregations. “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself…
The third question we encounter in the Bible comes from the lips of God: “Why are you angry?” (Genesis 4:6). It was addressed to Cain, and it concerned his response to God’s rejection of his offering. God had rejected it, and Cain should have repented of it. But he didn’t. Instead he got angry. Anger…
If God is willing, as the calendar changes to 2017, approximately 45% of Americans will resolve to make a change in the upcoming year. Most will resolve to lose weight. Others will endeavor to better organize their lives, spend less money, quit smoking, or spend more time with their families. Twenty-five percent will give up…
Now when they had left the multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He was. And other little boats were also with Him. And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they…
Chicken Little noun A confirmed pessimist, particularly one who warns of impending disaster. One who warns of or predicts calamity especially without justification [After a character in a story who is hit on the head by an acorn and believes the sky is falling.] (Webster’s Dictionary) Pessimism, expecting bad things, anticipating the worst, is a…
I was recently talking with a brother whose teenage son was immersed into the Lord two months ago. He told me his son said his first public prayer in a church assembly just a week ago or so after having submitted to the Lord only recently. I was not surprised, though I do not know…
In Jesus’ rebuke of the scribes and Pharisees as recorded by Matthew, it reads not all aspects of service to the Lord are equal. “Woe to you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. …
“Do you look at things according to the outward appearance?” (2 Corinthians 10:7). Much of the denominational world uses the Law of Moses as a reference for its standards and practices. Often, there is a mix of the ten commandments, buildings referred to as temples or tabernacles, rooms or places accorded a special degree of…