May 6, 2026

Motivations to Become a Christian

Woman Being BaptizedIt is a thrilling thing to witness someone respond to the invitation at the end of a sermon, make their way to the front of the auditorium, confess their faith in Christ, and then be baptized to have their sins washed away. Of course, this is not the only setting in which one could obey the gospel. Baptisms can occur in bathtubs, swimming pools, rivers, and anywhere else there is sufficient water for someone to be “buried with [Christ] in baptism” (Colossians 2:12) after they made the decision to become a Christian.

But why do people decide to become Christians? What motivates them to obey the gospel? We will briefly consider some possibilities in this article. However, we first need to understand what it means to obey the gospel.Continue Reading

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April 29, 2026

Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit

Man nervousPeople sometimes have questions about sin and forgiveness. Are some sins unforgivable? If so, and they commit those sins, are they forever lost without any hope? These are important questions, and we need to examine the Bible to answer them.

There is one sin in the Bible that many point to as being the unforgivable or unpardonable sin. It was identified by Jesus as blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.

“‘Truly I say to you, all sins shall be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they utter; but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin’—because they were saying, ‘He has an unclean spirit’” (Mark 3:28-30).

What is this sin? Why will it not be forgiven? And is it truly unforgivable? In other words, is someone beyond hope if they commit this sin just one time? Let us consider what the Bible teaches about this.Continue Reading

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April 28, 2026

Audio/Video: Gospel Meeting at the Warfield Blvd. church of Christ

Gospel Meeting at the Warfield Blvd. church of Christ, Andy Sochor preachingThis past weekend (April 23-26), I had the privilege of speaking in a Gospel Meeting at the Warfield Blvd. church of Christ in Clarksville, TN. The theme was God the Father, and the lessons were recorded and are available in audio and video formats.Continue Reading

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April 15, 2026

Repeated for Emphasis

Emphasis

Several passages in the Bible repeat a phrase to emphasize a thought and help us remember it. We will notice a few in this article.

But why is this necessary?

Oftentimes, we may hear something, understand it, but immediately think of an excuse to justify not doing it. We think, perhaps even subconsciously, “Yeah, but…” and then come up with a reason for not doing what we are told to do. Then we dismiss it. Yet when the instruction is repeated, our minds receive a signal that we really do need to take this seriously. So let us consider a few examples in the New Testament.Continue Reading

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April 1, 2026

How Does Sin Enslave Us?

Prisoner

“Jesus answered them, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son does remain forever. So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed’” (John 8:34-36).

In the verses leading up to Jesus’ statement above, He explained that the truth is able to make us free (John 8:32). Free from what? From sin. Sin enslaves those who commit it.

How does this happen? It does not somehow remove our free will. Even after we sin, we still have the ability to “choose…whom [we] will serve” (Joshua 24:15) and be persuaded to follow the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:11). So how does this “enslavement” happen?

In this article, we will notice seven ways that sin enslaves us. As we consider these, remember that most are actually accomplished by the devil and his ministers, who tempt us to sin, but they are attributed to sin itself.Continue Reading

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March 18, 2026

Stepping Stones or Stumbling Stones

J. M. Kidwill (1836-1892)J. M. Kidwill (1836-1892) spent twenty-five years preaching the gospel in Middle Tennessee. During his travels through the area, he came to Dixon Springs in Smith County. When he arrived, there was no church there, but he “saw a door opened to the truth at Dixon Springs, and he went in” (Twenty-Five Years of Trust, p. 76). Through Kidwill’s efforts, a congregation was established there, and the church maintained a close relationship with the preacher.

In a letter to one of the sisters in Dixon Springs (Sister Rose), Kidwill spoke of the opportunity for the members of that congregation to spread the gospel in that area, while also warning about what could hinder their efforts.

“I hope that you will have at no distant day a goodly number of devoted Christians at Dixon Springs, who will not only contend for the Bible in opposition to all humanisms, but who will practice what they preach. I want Bro. Rose’s ear while I say that much, very much, depends on the few members that we have in your vicinity. The Savior compares the influence of example in his disciples to leaven in meal until all is leavened. May we realize that we are either stepping stones for our neighbors to a higher life or stumbling stones over which they may fall into ruin.” (Twenty-Five Years of Trust, p. 79)

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March 4, 2026

Three Indictments

Gavel

“For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a terrifying expectation of judgment and the fury of a fire which will consume the adversaries. Anyone who has set aside the Law of Moses dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. How much severer punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled under foot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace?” (Hebrews 10:26-29).

In this passage, the Hebrew writer addressed the problem of those who would “go on sinning willfully” (Hebrews 10:26). These individuals previously had their “hearts sprinkled clean” and their “bodies washed with pure water” (Hebrews 10:22). In other words, they were Christians – forgiven of their sins after obeying the gospel. However, in the verses above, the Hebrew writer made three indictments against the ones who were “sinning willfully.”

What do we mean by using the term indictment? An indictment is a formal charge or accusation of a serious crime. In the passage above, the Hebrew writer was not just indicting these brethren of sin. It was more than that. There were three things they were doing because they continued in sin.

The warning in this passage is helpful for us to consider. Understanding this passage will help us recognize the severity of sin and how we should behave instead.Continue Reading

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