Posts from 2018
Signs of Grace
Paul began his second letter to the Thessalonian church with these encouraging words, “We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brethren, as is only fitting, because your faith is greatly enlarged, and the love of each one of you toward one another grows ever greater; therefore, we ourselves speak proudly of you among the churches of God for your perseverance and faith in the midst of all your persecutions and afflictions which you endure” (2 Thess. 1:3–4).…
Unraveling the “Mystery”
Several passages in the New Testament use the word “mystery” in connection with God’s plan for the redemption of man (Rom. 16:25; Eph. 1:9; 3:3-4; Col. 1:26). But why call this plan a mystery? In modern English usage, we use “mystery” to refer to things that lie outside our understanding or that defy explanation. For example, the location of Jimmy Hoffa is a mystery. The fate of the Ark of the Covenant is a mystery. Were the writers of scripture…
God’s Plan for Man’s Redemption
Even though Adam never met Abraham, Moses never met David, and Jeremiah never met John, they are all inextricably linked. Though the Bible is a compilation of 66 separate books, it tells but one story. The personalities of the Bible and the books that tell us of them are all connected as integral parts of God’s plan for the redemption and salvation of mankind. That, really, is the theme of all scripture: the salvation of mankind from the guilt of…
Why study apologetics? Part 2
Christian apologetics is the area of study concerned with the defense of Christian faith against the attacks of skepticism. The primary areas of this study are the existence of God, the historicity and deity of Jesus, and the inspiration of the Bible. Although this area of study often involves technical and scientific subjects, it is important for every Christian to expend the mental effort to better understand it. Why is that so? What are the reasons that would motivate a…
Why study apologetics? Part 1
There are a lot of words that get thrown around in philosophical and religious discussions that do not necessarily find their way into many everyday conversations. Some examples would be words like “hermeneutics,” “sanctification,” “dispensationalism,” and “apologetics.” I want to call our attention to that last word – apologetics. Although this might not be a word you use very often, it is a word that every Christian needs to know because it describes something that every Christian needs to do.…
Lessons from a Beggar on the Street
On some mid-afternoon following the Pentecost events of Acts 2, Peter and John found themselves in the presence of a physically disabled beggar outside the temple’s Beautiful Gate (Acts 3:1-10). Consider the following lessons from the record of his dramatic healing: Don’t Ever Give Up (3:2).The paralyzed man had convinced some of his friends, family, or strangers to carry him from his home (wherever it was) to the temple every day so he could ask for financial help from passersby.…
Measuring Our Love for God
While there is definitely an emotional component to love, true love is not merely emotion. True love is also a decision. It is a deliberate act of the will. The Bible reveals some measuring sticks by which we can determine whether or not our love for God is as deep as it could be. Our love for God is measured by how much we love each other. “But whoever has the world’s goods, and sees his brother in need and…
Take Charge
When Jesus arrived in Jerusalem to commemorate the great exodus by observing the Passover, He found that the temple complex more resembled a marketplace and banking center than it did a place to offer worship to His Father (John 2:13-22). The place was filled with corrals full of livestock and kiosks for exchanging currency. With a whip that He crafted Himself, the Prince of Peace made quite a scene. He turned the animals loose and drove them out, overturned the…
How Polishing the Pulpit Helps Brown Trail
If the Lord wills, Mary and I (and a number of other BT members) will travel this week to Sevierville, Tennessee, for the annual workshop called “Polishing the Pulpit.” What began less than twenty years ago with three friends getting together to bounce sermon ideas off each other has now grown to an annual event that boasts an attendance of over 4,000! It’s called “Polishing the Pulpit” because it started out as a workshop designed just for preachers to hone…
Why do we . . . ?
If someone were to ask me which house on Sabine Court in Hurst was mine, my description of it would focus on those traits that distinguish it from the other houses on the street. Every home has its unique characteristics. The same is true with churches. To analyze the religious landscape is to realize quickly that not every church is the same, a fact that begs for an explanation. Why do we do the things that distinguish us from others?…
The Glory of the Word: Lessons from Psalm 119 – Part 5
The 119thPsalm offers some wonderful, timely, and practical lessons for daily Christian living, nearly all of which are rooted in the power and glory of God’s word. Let us consider a few. Psalm 119:104 Regular time spent in the study of the Bible does at least two things: (1) it increases one’s love for God’s word (Psa. 119:97); (2) it increases one’s hatred of evil. “Through Your precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way” (119:104). If your…
The Glory of the Word: Lessons from Psalm 119 – Part 4
The 119thPsalm offers some wonderful, timely, and practical lessons for daily Christian living, nearly all of which are rooted in the power and glory of God’s word. Let us consider a few. Psalm 119:97 There’s an old adage that says, “Familiarity breeds contempt.” That may hold true in some situations, but not when you’re discussing the law of God. Familiarity breeds love. It was because of the psalmist’s daily and day-long contemplation of God’s word that he could exclaim, “O…