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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January 7, 2026

Salvation: Past, Present, and Future

BaptismFor many religious people, when they talk about salvation, they talk about “getting” saved. It is common to hear phrases like these:

  • When did you get saved?
  • I got saved when I was fifteen years old.
  • Several people were getting saved at the revival.

However, despite how frequently we hear phrases like those in conversations with religious people, the Bible never talks about salvation in this way. Instead, the New Testament refers to people being saved.

This is significant because it emphasizes our dependence upon God for our salvation. Salvation is not something we “get” on our own. Instead, we are dependent upon God to save us. Even when there are conditions we must meet (which we will discuss), we are relying upon God to save us. Therefore, the New Testament talks about being saved (passive, something that is done for us) rather than getting saved (active, something we do or obtain for ourselves).

In fact, the New Testament describes aspects of our salvation (being saved) that relate to the past, present, and future. Let us consider a few different passages.Continue Reading

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December 29, 2025

Add to Your Faith (Part 9): The Entrance into the Eternal Kingdom

Add to Your Faith

Over the course of this study, we have been looking at qualities we are to add to our faith – moral excellence, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love. Now, we are going to wrap up the series by looking at Peter’s conclusion.

“For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins. Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble; for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you” (2 Peter 1:8-11).

Let us consider four points from the verses above.Continue Reading

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December 25, 2025

Top 5 on Plain Bible Teaching in 2025

Plain Bible Teaching Top 5 in 2025

This year is quickly drawing to a close, and it will be 2026 before we know it. Before we get there, it is time for the annual “Top 5” post on Plain Bible Teaching, where we look back at the most-read articles, most-listened-to podcast episodes, and most-watched videos – not necessarily to see what was most “popular” but what was most helpful.

A couple of things I noticed that I thought were interesting:

  • A book review made it in the Top 5 articles posted this year. I don’t think we’ve had that before.
  • Three of the Top 5 Facebook posts were Restoration History articles.

Continue Reading

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December 24, 2025

Unacceptable Gifts for God

Gift

“I hate, I reject your festivals, nor do I delight in your solemn assemblies. Even though you offer up to Me burnt offerings and your grain offerings, I will not accept them; and I will not even look at the peace offerings of your fatlings. Take away from Me the noise of your songs; I will not even listen to the sound of your harps. But let justice roll down like waters and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream” (Amos 5:21-24).

These words from God may sound shocking to many people today. Why would God not accept worship that was being offered to Him?

The rebuke above was directed to the nation of Israel. The reason why God refused to accept their worship was because of their sin: “For I know your transgressions are many and your sins are great…” (Amos 5:12). Offering sacrifices to God did not excuse them of disregarding His law and doing things that were contrary to His will.

Other passages describe various kinds of gifts which were offered to God, but He did not accept them. In this article, we are going to consider some unacceptable gifts we may offer to God, lest we find ourselves guilty of offering something that He would “hate” or “reject.”Continue Reading

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December 22, 2025

Add to Your Faith (Part 8): Add Love

Add to Your Faith

As we reach the end of Peter’s list of qualities we are to add to our faith, we come to one that Paul described in another context as “the greatest of these” (1 Corinthians 13:13) – love. It is fitting for this to be the final trait, though not because it is the least important. As faith is the foundation upon which all of these others are added, love must be the motivation for all that we do in these areas.

“Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 1:5-8).

Continue Reading

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