When Paul came to Thessalonica, he began preaching in the synagogue with some success (Acts 17:1-4). However, many of the Jews became upset and caused an uproar (Acts 17:5). They searched for Paul and Silas, the ones who had “turned the world upside down” with their teaching (Acts 17:6). When they could not find them, they brought Jason and some of the other brethren before the city authorities (Acts 17:6-7). What charge did they bring against Jason? He “welcomed them” (Acts 17:7).
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September 5, 2007
Do Not Receive Him into Your House
September 1, 2007
Immodesty in Dress: Who is to Blame?
Moral standards are being lowered all around us. One obvious area is in the type of dress people wear. Clothing generally has become shorter, tighter, and lower-cut. The problem of immodest dress has affected members of the Lord’s church as well. Some are either so bold or so ignorant that they even dress immodestly to the assembly of the saints. Who is to blame for this rising problem among God’s people?
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September 1, 2007
Only the Red Letters?
[This article was written by Tim Haile.]
It is not uncommon to hear people cite a particular Bible passage or principle and emphasize the fact that it is in the “red letter” part of the Bible. They mean to emphasize that these words were spoken directly by Jesus; not by some other Bible writer. Some publishing companies do use a red font to express the words that were directly spoken by Jesus. And while there is nothing wrong with showing respect for the words of Jesus, we must not be deceived into thinking that the “black letters” present teaching that is inferior to what is printed in “red letters.” The teaching of Christ is not limited to what He directly spoke while He was in the flesh. Jesus actually selected and inspired certain men to complete the work of revelation after He had returned to Heaven.
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September 1, 2007
The Source of Authority
It is important that we have the proper source of authority in religion. If we do not, the result is apostasy. Disobedience is when we do not do everything “in word or deed…in the name of the Lord Jesus” (Colossians 3:17) but by other standards of authority as well. Division comes when we do not “all speak the same thing” (1 Corinthians 1:10).
We see this problem when we look at “church history.” When I use this term (church history), I am not referring to the history of the Lord’s church from its establishment on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2) to the present day. I am using it as most use it – as the history of denominations that claim or have claimed to follow Christ. Throughout this history, apostasy came as the result of people not following the proper source of authority.
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August 27, 2007
The Uncertainty of Life
“Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit.’ Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. Instead, you ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that.’ But as it is, you boast in your arrogance; all such boasting is evil” (James 4:13-16).
We often like to plan for the future. It gives us a sense of security knowing what is coming next and working toward a certain goal. But we do not know with certainty what is coming next. Our best plans could be in vain. Many things could happen that are beyond our power to control that can completely change our life.
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August 12, 2007
The All Sufficiency of the Church
I came across Daniel Sommer’s commentary on the New Testament. I thought a couple of his comments regarding the church in particular were quite good.
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