Why do Christians gather for worship? What are they to do when they gather? What purpose does it serve? What meaning does it have? Why is worship so important? If we tried to reduce biblical worship to a single word, it would be impossible. We would use words like “praise,” “giving thanks,” “prayer,” and “adoration.” But there is a word that we would have to use that is absolutely essential to the essence of biblical worship, though it would probably be left off our list. This word probably didn’t occur to you but when you see it you will think, “Ah yes, but wasn’t that just for Old Testament believers?” What is the word? Sacrifice. ...
Christian parents, are you okay with God not being a part of most of your child's day? Are you okay with your children being taught sex education, Critical Race Theory, homosexuality, to hate their country, race, and religion? Are you okay with children learning, playing, and living in isolation because of a virus that has a 97% survival rating? Are you okay with your child learning about the world and living each day in separation from Christ and His church? Are you praying about it? ...
Modern times have looked skeptically upon the role of fatherhood. Historically, the father was the leader of the home and mother was his right hand. Dad brought home the bacon and mother cooked it, as the saying went. These days are a bit different. Now, we are taught that mom brings home the bacon and dad better cook it! To think otherwise, or even question this, makes us a chauvinist in some people’s eyes. What is going on here? Often we are given the impression that a father is not needed except to make the child, and now, well, we have ways around that too. All the while children, even grown children, are crying out for a warm relationship with a real, loving father. Countless studies have shown that many people are suffering emotionally because, for one reason or another, they did not have a deep relationship with their father. ...
Do you believe in the resurrection of the dead? I mean a person who died in faith who will someday be raised again in the likeness of Christ. Do you live in the hope of the resurrection? These believers in Corinth were like many today. They were saved out of a culture that is anti-God and anti-Christ thus they were confused about many of the Biblical teachings of their own faith-- Christianity. Look closely with me at the text. ...
The Patriarch Jacob was like many who grew up in the church. He knew about God. He'd watched his parents worship and build their lives around the biblical faith. He wasn't opposed to it. He kind of believed it too. But in reality, Jacob had not really come to God himself. If the truth were told, he was simply coasting off his father's faith....
Freshly out of graduate school, I briefly served as Associate Pastor to Lena Baptist Church. Located in Lena Illinois, LBC is a small church in a small town. In fact, it was the only Baptist church in town. While at Lena Baptist, I met some very special people, one of whom was a dear elderly lady known to the congregation as Grandma Olney. Mrs. Olney taught the only preschool Sunday school class. Grandma Olney had been teaching this same age-group for approximately twenty years. In my college days, I knew a fellow whose home church was Lena Baptist. He was taught by Grandma Olney....
Starting well has its challenges but continuing takes perseverance. Pastor John MacArthur, a former college track runner, illustrates this truth well. ...
Can Grace Be Seen? Is there evidence of God's grace in you? Can we know if someone is a believer? ...
If we desire to grow spiritually, we must do as Christ’s apostle tells us and earnestly desire the pure milk of the Word. In this second part, we will discover two more important reasons that the Bible itself tells us to be Bible students. ...
The Bible is the key to the Christian life. In the Bible, we discover who God is and His holy character. In the Bible, we find out our beginning and purpose. In it, we learn what’s wrong with the world and what God has done to reconcile all things to Himself. In Scripture, we find the way of salvation and the strength for living. It is in Holy Scripture that we are commanded to pray, to worship, to gather, to believe, and to fast. It is God’s Word to us. These are good reasons and they are based on Scripture but does the Bible itself give us reasons to invest precious time in reading and rereading it? Actually, it does. Briefly, allow me to share some of the reasons the Scripture indicates that it is good to give great amounts of time to its study. ...
Why do Christians gather for worship? What are they to do when they gather? What purpose does it serve? What meaning does it have? Why is worship so important? If we tried to reduce biblical worship to a single word, it would be impossible. We would use words like “praise,” “giving thanks,” “prayer,” and “adoration.” But there is a word that we would have t...
Keep Reading Christian parents, are you okay with God not being a part of most of your child's day? Are you okay with your children being taught sex education, Critical Race Theory, homosexuality, to hate their country, race, and religion? Are you okay with children learning, playing, and living in isolation because of a virus that has a 97% survival rating? Are you okay with your chil...
Keep Reading Modern times have looked skeptically upon the role of fatherhood. Historically, the father was the leader of the home and mother was his right hand. Dad brought home the bacon and mother cooked it, as the saying went. These days are a bit different. Now, we are taught that mom brings home the bacon and dad better cook it! To think otherwise, or even question this, makes us...
Keep Reading Do you believe in the resurrection of the dead? I mean a person who died in faith who will someday be raised again in the likeness of Christ. Do you live in the hope of the resurrection? These believers in Corinth were like many today. They were saved out of a culture that is anti-God and anti-Christ thus they were confused about many of the Biblical teachings of their own...
Keep Reading The Patriarch Jacob was like many who grew up in the church. He knew about God. He'd watched his parents worship and build their lives around the biblical faith. He wasn't opposed to it. He kind of believed it too. But in reality, Jacob had not really come to God himself. If the truth were told, he was simply coasting off his father's faith....
Keep Reading Freshly out of graduate school, I briefly served as Associate Pastor to Lena Baptist Church. Located in Lena Illinois, LBC is a small church in a small town. In fact, it was the only Baptist church in town. While at Lena Baptist, I met some very special people, one of whom was a dear elderly lady known to the congregation as Grandma Olney. Mrs. Olney taught the only presch...
Keep Reading Starting well has its challenges but continuing takes perseverance. Pastor John MacArthur, a former college track runner, illustrates this truth well. ...
Keep Reading Can Grace Be Seen? Is there evidence of God's grace in you? Can we know if someone is a believer? ...
Keep Reading If we desire to grow spiritually, we must do as Christ’s apostle tells us and earnestly desire the pure milk of the Word. In this second part, we will discover two more important reasons that the Bible itself tells us to be Bible students. ...
Keep Reading The Bible is the key to the Christian life. In the Bible, we discover who God is and His holy character. In the Bible, we find out our beginning and purpose. In it, we learn what’s wrong with the world and what God has done to reconcile all things to Himself. In Scripture, we find the way of salvation and the strength for living. It is in Holy Scripture that we are comma...
Keep Reading