Forsaking Methodology

[This article was written by Brandon Trout.]

Teaching the Good News can be a difficult work. A Christian is required to anticipate teaching things that may be difficult, even offensive, to their audience. 2 Timothy 4:2 teaches that our responsibility is to “preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching” [ESV – et seq.]. The writer then continues to caution that many will “turn away from listening to the truth,” seeking out teachers who will “suit their own passions.Continue Reading

Preparing to Preach

Man holding Bible on road

One who decides to devote his life to the preaching of the gospel is to be commended. It is an important work and one which will always be needed. But how would a man who has decided to devote his life to the gospel prepare to do the work?
Continue Reading

The Bible

Bible Reading

The Bible is the best selling book of all time. In reality, it is a collection of books. There are thirty-nine books in the Old Testament containing law, history, poetry, and prophecy. The twenty-seven books in the New Testament include the four gospels that record the life of Christ, the book of Acts which is a history of the early church and the spread of the gospel, and letters to churches and individual Christians. It tells of God’s great scheme of redemption to save man from his sins. Is it just another book, or is it something more? It is important we understand what the Bible is.
Continue Reading

Contentment

Man looking out over the ocean

It is easy to get caught up in accumulating wealth and possessions in this life. We see people around us who are prosperous and have many of the things that we would like to have. So we are tempted to pursue those things. There is nothing wrong with possessing some of this world’s goods; but if that is our aim, we will be as unfruitful as the thorny ground in the parable of the sower. The “worries and riches and pleasures of this life” (Luke 8:13) will choke out the word and leave us in a sad condition before the Lord.
Continue Reading

The Free Gift of God

Gift

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23).

Many use this verse to show that we are saved by the grace of God and that there is nothing we can do to affect our salvation. In other words, works (acts of obedience) are not necessary for salvation. We all recognize the fact that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23), so it is true that all are deserving of spiritual death. But those who say grace is unconditional try to say that those who believe grace is conditional also believe they can earn their salvation.
Continue Reading

Is Gambling Wrong?

Poker

This question comes up from time to time. Is it wrong for a Christian to gamble? Gambling is never specifically condemned in the New Testament. This is often pointed out by those who defend it. However, something can still be wrong without being specifically condemned. Can we say that gambling is wrong, despite no specific condemnation? Let us consider the question.
Continue Reading

Fellowship Questions and MDR

Marriage, divorce and remarriage (MDR) has been and always will be a source of controversy among God’s people. Some have taught that those who have divorced and remarried prior to becoming a Christian can remain in their current relationship after obeying the gospel. Recently there has been controversy over whether or not one who has been put away by his/her mate for just any cause can put away his/her spouse for fornication and remarry. There are other MDR questions, but recently I have seen these two lumped together and placed in the category of Romans 14.

Whenever questions like these arise, it is important for us to determine whether or not a certain disagreement relating to MDR ought to be a test of fellowship. Can we agree to disagree? Or must there be division? There are times for both. In matters of opinion, we must agree to disagree. In matters of the faith, we must not tolerate sin and error.Continue Reading