October 12, 2022

Shake the Dust Off Your Feet

Man with Bible Facing Away

Many religious people are familiar with the Great Commission in which Jesus told His apostles to “go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation” (Mark 16:15). Earlier, during His earthly ministry, He gave His apostles a more “limited” commission – to “go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Matthew 10:6).

When Jesus gave this “limited” commission, He told His apostles, “And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand’” (Matthew 10:7). However, even though their message would be confirmed with miracles (Matthew 10:8), not everyone would accept it. So Jesus gave them instructions regarding what they should do when this happened:

“Whoever does not receive you, nor heed your words, as you go out of that house or that city, shake the dust off your feet” (Matthew 10:14).

Jesus indicated the severity of the offense committed by those who refused to listen when He said that “it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city” (Matthew 10:15). This shows us just how serious it is for someone to reject the message of the gospel.

The same thing was done as the Great Commission was carried out as well. In Antioch of Pisidia (Acts 13:14), the Jews opposed Paul’s preaching out of jealousy when they saw that “the whole city assembled to hear the word of the Lord” (Acts 13:44-45). Their response led to Paul and Barnabas “[shaking] off the dust of their feet in protest against them” (Acts 13:51).Continue Reading

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October 10, 2022

Answering Basic Questions (Part 4): Who Is Jesus?

Answering Basic Questions

Virtually everyone we will meet has at least heard of Jesus, though they may have different opinions or assumptions about Him. Some may see Him as a great teacher. Others might think that he was just a Jewish rabbi. There are also those who believe that He was nothing more than a myth or a legend. Then there are believers who will affirm that He is the Son of God.

So who is Jesus? We will just scratch the surface here, but let us consider four points to help us answer that question.Continue Reading

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October 3, 2022

Answering Basic Questions (Part 3): What Is the Meaning of Life?

Answering Basic Questions

Why are we here? What are we to be doing? Where are we going? People search for answers to those questions because they want their lives to have meaning, yet many do not know where to look. The fact that this is so common is why we are addressing it early in our series. The Bible – especially the book of Ecclesiastes – helps us with the answers we are seeking.

But what is the meaning of life? Let us consider four points to help us address that question.Continue Reading

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September 28, 2022

“You Follow Me”

Jesus and Peter

In the last recorded conversation in the gospel of John, Jesus warned Peter about what was in store for him in the future. Jesus said, “‘Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were younger, you used to gird yourself and walk wherever you wished; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands and someone else will gird you, and bring you where you do not wish to go.’ Now this He said, signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, ‘Follow Me!’” (John 21:18-19).

If we were in Peter’s position, it might have been a little shocking or scary to hear this from Jesus. We are not told exactly what Peter’s emotional state was at this time; however, we are told of his verbal response to Jesus. When he saw his fellow apostle John, he asked Jesus, “Lord, and what about this man?” (John 21:21).

When facing particularly trying situations, it is often tempting to look at others who do not seem to be facing the same degree of difficulty that we are and then complain that our situation is not fair. Perhaps this was Peter’s intent when he asked about John. Regardless of his motive, Jesus explained that he was not to be concerned about anyone else: “If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow Me!” (John 21:22).Continue Reading

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September 26, 2022

Answering Basic Questions (Part 2): What Is the Bible?

Answering Basic QuestionsThe Bible is the most well-known and well-preserved book of all time – no other book of antiquity comes close to having the manuscript evidence that the Bible has. Believers in God recognize the Bible as His word and those who reject God still cannot ignore it. It is truly a unique book.

But what is the Bible? Let us consider four points that will help us begin to answer that question.Continue Reading

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September 21, 2022

J.D. Tant: Three Stages in All Religious Movements

J.D. Tant: Three Stages in All Religious Movements

J.D. Tant (1861-1941) worked tirelessly to preach the gospel throughout his life and was never one to back down or compromise his convictions. However, he eventually began to realize that his brethren were not nearly as willing to stand as firmly as he was. Almost a century ago, he wrote the following observations in the Gospel Advocate, January 5, 1928:

“I find that there are three stages in all religious movements: The first is the fighting stage, when people are few and humble, and lean on God for support. At that stage they all fight and try to overthrow the teachings of men, as the Jews did as recorded in Deut. 7.

“The second stage is the stage of greatness; we become strong and respected and want fine houses and big schools like the sects around us. The Jews reached that stage when they rejected God and wanted a king, to be like other people.

“The third stage is the age of compromise, when we don’t want the differences between the church of Christ and the denominations debated, for fear we will hurt somebody’s feelings. I fear the church of Christ is in the third stage today, and will be followed by spiritual death if some change does not come.” (J.D. Tant: Texas Preacher, p. 413)

When we study the history of the Restoration Movement, we can see what Tant described in these paragraphs. As people started to leave the churches of men in order to simply follow the New Testament, they were very zealous in their efforts to preach the gospel and defend the truth.

Eventually as their numbers (and resources) grew, they began to build bigger and fancier buildings for their churches and put more emphasis and investments into their institutions (missionary societies, schools, etc.). Whenever this happens, aside from questions about whether such things are Scriptural or not, there is a temptation to do almost anything to maintain and grow these institutions. This naturally requires people to be involved and money to be invested. Because brethren value the institutions they have created, they tend to do whatever they need to do to keep the most people happy in order to secure the personnel and finances needed to continue. This inevitably leads to compromise.Continue Reading

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September 19, 2022

Answering Basic Questions (Part 1): Who Is God?

Answering Basic Questions

The natural world around us with its order, complexity, and continuous systems is proof of the existence of a higher power. Our universe could not have come about by mere chance, nor could it have arisen from nothingness – it came from God.

But who is God? Let us consider four points that will help us begin to answer that question.Continue Reading

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