Honesty as far the Christian is concerned is very important. As a matter of fact, it should be a great concern for non-Christians as well. Dishonesty is a problem confronting our society. Honesty, sincerity, integrity and openness of life are absolutely essential if the church is to stand high in the thinking of our neighbors and friends. If Christians are to have any influence for Christ they must be genuine Christians. I want to discuss with you some aspects of the vital subject of hone...

One might ask the question, “why preach?” I'm sure many preachers have been asked that very question by family members, friends, and members of church, even those in the community. To some preaching my seem foolish, “For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.” (1Co 1:21) But to God it serves the purpose He wants it to. We Preach because:

First to Please God and to show God's Po...

J.D. Conley

Unfortunately, with the summer well underway, many people are well underdressed. Each year about this time as the mercury rises, people across this land begin to strip off. It is apparent that bare season is open again, and many are on the prowl.

In light of this annual situation, we as the Body of Christ need to honestly concern ourselves with this question: "Is it pleasing to God for a Christian, male or female, to be a public participant in the activities which surround t...

Charles C. Pugh, III

The nineteenth stanza of Psalm 119 concludes with the Psalmist affirming the everlasting nature of the law of God. He says, “Concerning Your testimonies, I have known of old that You have founded them forever” (v. 152). In the section immediately preceding, he wrote, “the righteousness of Your testimonies is everlasting …” (v. 144). Alexander renders verse 152 with the following: “Long have I known from thy testimonies (themselves) that thou unto eternity ...

Gregory K. Circle  II

Our young Christians need to be taught the arguments for such issues as instrumental music in worship so they can “earnestly contend for the faith” (Jude 3). The new arguments are simply the old arguments. This discussion will be about some of the Greek words in Ephesians 5:19 and Colossians 3:16, especially the word, psallo, and the arguments related to it. Each of these words represent a different type of music.

First, the word translated “song” is the...

Rodney Nulph

Thomas Jefferson warned his country in the long ago, that public debt was “the greatest of the dangers to be feared.” I wonder what Mr. Jefferson would say today to a nation who has failed to balance successfully its budget? America’s national debt is currently topping $12 trillion dollars! Obviously, this kind of debt is anything but a blessing to our nation. Not only is national debt a burden, but far too often household debt burdens a family unit as well. Foreclos...

Dan Kessinger

 The Bible is an authoritative book, but it wields a gentle authority. It does not have to be loud, obnoxious, bossy, or pushy in order to be real. But, what if God's authority were not so gentle? How would our submission to the authority of God be different if the Bible were a literal sword? This comparison is a valid one because Hebrews 4:12 reads: For the word of God {is} living and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spi...

John A. Keith
 

 The recent repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” has sparked many discussions, heated debates, and downright arguments. In the midst of all the “back and forth” regarding homosexuality, a common malady among humanists and “free-spirit thinkers” has once again reared its ugly “I have a right to my opinion but you don’t” head. Their line of thinking, if one may call it such, extends to all forms of sin and perversion. It is not just about homosexuality.
 ...

Jeremy Main

What does the Bible teach about the church of Christ? For the purpose of this article, we will address the importance of the Lord Jesus Christ and his relationship to his church. We will do so by asking and answering six questions from the New Testament.

First, who built the church? Jesus said, “I will build My church” (Matt.16:18, NKJV). He also referred to the church as the “kingdom” (Matt.16:19). Metaphorically, Jesus promised to found or establish his church ...

D. Gene West


It is often true that the ethics of God and man clash. Man, being the arrogant kind of being he is, has the temerity to reflect on the ethics of God. God is righteous. He has never made a mistake, nor will He ever. When Abraham was bargaining with God to spare the evil cities of Sodom, Gomorrah, and the others cities of the plain, he asked, “Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?”(Genesis 18:25b) Before we reflect on God, we need to understand as much as we can abou...

Emergency Phone Numbers
 
1. When in sorrow, call John 14.

2. When men fail you, call Psalm 27.

3. If you want to be fruitful, call John 15.

4. When you have sinned, call Psalm 51.

5. When you worry, call Matthew 6:19-34.

6. When you are in danger, call Psalm 91.

7. When God seems far away, call Psalm 139.

8. When your faith needs stirring, call Hebrews 11.

9. When you are lonely and fearful, call Psalm 23.

10. When you grow bitter and critical, call 1 Corinthians 13.

11. For Paul's secret to happiness, ...

Michael E. Phillips

 Every night at bedtime, the doors of the houses are shut and locked. This is not for the purpose of considering the well-being of the poor burglar who might be outside but for the security of the family members on the inside. The focus is on the peace, safety, and happiness of those who have made the preparations to be inside when the doors are shut and locked.

 In the spiritual application, how many sermons have been preached, using the illustrations of doors which are...

Edward N. Melott

 There are those who love to shop. "Shop till you drop" is their motto. These are the ones who are shopping before daylight on the so-called black Friday (the day after Thanksgiving). They are the ones who very frugally inspect the sale papers for clearance items and the like. Often they will ban together and tease one another and, in all good fun, boast about a certain deal on a certain item they bought that they just could not live without. Others, usually men, shop with a...

Edward N. Melott

 The above question, "What is the church?" may appear to be of little importance to some, perhaps of no importance to others! The popular "religious" slogans (not found in the Bible) demonstrate this by reducing the church to a building with stained glass windows and a pulpit rather than the people for whom Jesus died. "Give me the Man and not the Plan" or "Jesus, yes, but the church, no" are daring examples of the massive Biblical ignorance in the world today regarding Chri...

By W. Terry Varner

[Therefore Stand, April 1999, Vol. 15, No. 5, pp. 25-26, 32.]

We constantly read and hear of the coming millennium due to our calendar year soon to read 2000. We will hear this with greater emphasis until it comes and passes. It is referred to as "the millennium" and, at times, the references leave one thinking there never has been "a millennium." But we know this is not true, as there have been other millenniums during the lifetime of humanity.

The word "millennium" means "...

Baptism is the dividing line between:

1. Sin-guilt and remission of sins under the great commission (Matt. 28:18-20; Mk. 16:15-18; Lk. 24:46-49)
 
2. The unsaved and the saved (Mk. 16:16; 1 Pet. 3:21)

3. Those whose sins have not been washed away and those whose sins have been washed away (Acts 22:16)
 
4. Those who are not in Christ and those who are in Christ (Rom. 6:3; Gal. 3:27)
 
5. Those who are not in the kingdom of God and those who are in the kingdom of God (Jn. 3:5; Col. 1:13)

6. Those who ...

Fifth, He is in scriptual worship. John 4:24 says, "God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth." So to worship God it must be done in a certain manner. First, it is in spirit and second it is in truth. God is due our worship, but it will be done on his terms not ours. Worship to God is not done the "burger king" way (which is to say, "worship, my way"). God has given us His Word and the way in which He expects us to worship Him. God is in our spiritual ...

In Psalm 42:3, a question is asked “Where is you God?”. It is meant as a statement to bring shame on those who believe in God. Nothing has changed today, many are asked this very question by hundreds of people. When some tragic accident or natural disaster happens, those that question God's existence will use this opportunity to try and raise doubts in your mind. We as Christians cannot allow doubt to enter our minds, but instead turn to the word of God to help strengthen us. Then whe...

Jesus stated on many occasions that He and God were One since before the beginning of time. In Exodus 3:13, Moses asked God a question. He asked when the children of Israel ask what is the name of He who sent him, God answered “I AM”. Jesus paraphrased this later in John 8:58 in which is stated “Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.” Of course after He stated this the Jews attempted to stone Him, because they knew what He was claiming. Jesus la...

In the Old Testament under the Patriarchal Dispensation and Mosaic Dispensation the Hebrews and Israelites were commanded to tithe. "Behold, I have given the children of Levi all the tithes in Israel as an inheritance in return for the work which they perform, the work of the tabernacle of meeting. Hereafter the children of Israel shall not come near the tabernacle of meeting, lest they bear sin and die. But the Levites shall perform the work of the tabernacle of meeting, and they shall bear ...

It is said of those listed as church members that, 10% cannot be found, 20% never attend a single service, 25% admit that they never pray, 30% never read the Bible even a little, 40% never give to any church cause, 50% never attend the evening service, 60% give nothing to missions or world evangelism, 75% assume no responsibility in the church, 85% never attend mid-week Bible study, 95% never win a soul to Christ, But 100% expect to go to heaven. The first century church did not have some of ...