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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February 18, 2026

What the New Testament Teaches about Fasting

Empty Plate

There are several passages in the Bible that talk about fasting, yet it is a topic that is sometimes ignored or glossed over. Because of this, many people have questions about it. The biggest question that we should be concerned about is this: Are Christians to fast today?

This is a good question, and to answer it, we need to consider what the Bible – particularly the New Testament – has to say on this topic. In this article, we will examine what the New Testament teaches about fasting and how it applies to us.Continue Reading

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February 4, 2026

Build on the Rock

House in a TsunamiJesus concluded His sermon on the mount with an illustration of two men who each built a house. While they shared some similarities, there was a key difference between the two, which led to very different outcomes. There are some important lessons we need to learn from this.

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock.

“Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell—and great was its fall” (Matthew 7:24-27).

First, let us notice what the two men had in common:Continue Reading

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January 21, 2026

One Loaf and One Cup

Lord’s Supper EmblemsWhen Jesus gathered with His disciples shortly before His death, He instituted the Lord’s Supper. This would be a memorial to remember His death, and would be observed by His people in the church until His return at the end of time. Because of this, we continue to observe the Lord’s Supper “on the first day of the week” (Acts 20:7), and by doing so, we “proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes” (1 Corinthians 11:26).

The Lord’s Supper is a simple memorial that reminds us of the body and blood of Jesus, which was offered on the cross for our sins. Jesus explained its purpose and significance to His disciples when He instituted it:

“While they were eating, Jesus took some bread, and after a blessing, He broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, ‘Take, eat; this is My body.’ And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink from it, all of you; for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins. But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom’” (Matthew 26:26-29).

When Paul wrote to the church in Corinth, he reminded them of these same instructions:

“For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus in the night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, ‘This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.’ In the same way He took the cup also after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me. For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes’” (1 Corinthians 11:23-26).

These instructions are fairly straightforward. However, that does not eliminate the possibility of controversy regarding the observance of the Lord’s Supper. One point of controversy that has arisen among brethren over the years has to do with whether or not the Lord’s instructions require us to partake of one singular loaf and drink from the same singular cup. We will consider this question here.Continue Reading

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