June 18, 2025

“Jesus Wept”

Jesus Wept

The shortest verse in the English Bible contains just two words: “Jesus wept” (John 10:35). Yet there is much to be learned from this brief statement. The context describes Jesus’ response to the death of Lazarus, who was a personal friend of His. Jesus would raise Lazarus from the dead, but an emotional scene preceded this event.

“Therefore, when Mary came where Jesus was, she saw Him, and fell at His feet, saying to Him, ‘Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.’ When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, He was deeply moved in spirit and was troubled, and said, ‘Where have you laid him?’ They said to Him, ‘Lord, come and see.’ Jesus wept” (John 11:32-35).

What can we learn from this passage? Let us consider a few points.Continue Reading

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June 4, 2025

The Lost Sheep

One Sheep

The parable of the lost sheep is one of the more well-known parables of Jesus. It teaches us of God’s love for us, even when we wander away from Him. It also shows us what our attitude should be toward those who wander off and are restored. It is good to be reminded of parables like this one, and also to make the proper application. Let us consider this parable together.

“What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open pasture and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’ I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance” (Luke 15:4-7).

In order to understand the point of the parable, we need to recognize the circumstances in which it was given. Luke noted that “the tax collectors and the sinners were coming near [Jesus] to listen to Him” (Luke 15:1). Yet the parable was not directed at them. Instead, Jesus told it to Pharisees and scribes who “began to grumble” against Him because these individuals were coming to Him (Luke 15:2-3).

In the parable, Jesus described a man with one hundred sheep, and one of them wandered off. Rather than throwing up his hands and immediately giving up on the wayward sheep, he left to find it. Amazingly, he was successful, and when he returned with it, he rejoiced with his friends and neighbors. The sheep in the parable represent God’s people – those who already belonged in the fold, whether faithful or wayward.Continue Reading

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May 21, 2025

Searching for a Man

Breach in the Wall

When we look at the wickedness surrounding us and the problems that plague the world, we may wonder what good one person can do to fix all of it. Individually, how much do our actions impact the situation around us? From our perspective, the impact may be minimal, but God’s perspective can be much different. Consider what God told the prophet Ezekiel:

“I searched for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand in the gap before Me for the land, so that I would not destroy it; but I found no one” (Ezekiel 22:30).

In the verse above, God was searching for “a man” to change His mind about destroying the people. That one man was not found, so the people were destroyed: “‘Thus I have poured out My indignation on them; I have consumed them with the fire of My wrath; their way I have brought upon their heads,’ declares the Lord God” (Ezekiel 22:31).

This passage reminds us of the importance of our efforts as individuals. As we consider the lessons from this text, let us not think our efforts are in vain.Continue Reading

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May 7, 2025

How to Please God

Man reading the Bible

It is reasonable to assume that all those who believe in God, understand who He is, and recognize all that He has done for us will want to please Him in the things that they do. But how do we live in such a way as to please God?

Paul wrote to the brethren in Ephesus about “trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord” (Ephesians 5:10). If this is something we are “trying to learn,” then that tells us two things:

  1. It is not something we instinctively know. The prophet Jeremiah said, “I know, O Lord, that a man’s way is not in himself, nor is it in a man who walks to direct his steps” (Jeremiah 10:23).
  2. God is not pleased with just anything we might do for Him. Jesus spoke of those who would claim to do many things “in [His] name” but were rejected by Him because they were practicing “lawlessness” (Matthew 7:22).

If we are going to please God, we need to learn how to please Him and be sure we are learning the proper way to do it. Since we cannot look to ourselves (or other men) to determine this, we need to look to God Himself and the word He has revealed to us. Paul wrote, “For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God” (1 Corinthians 2:11). Just as you and I do not know what the other is thinking unless we tell each other, we cannot know the mind of God unless He tells us. Thankfully, He has revealed the Scriptures to us so that we may be “equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). In other words, everything we need to know to please the Lord can be learned through a study of the Scriptures.

So what do the Scriptures teach about what we must do to please the Lord? Let us consider a few points:Continue Reading

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April 28, 2025

Big Words in the Bible: Conclusion

Big Words in the Bible

There is no topic more important than our salvation. Understanding what the Bible teaches about this is crucial to appreciate what God has done and take advantage of His offer of eternal life.

As we have noticed in this series, the Bible uses some “big” words to explain this. This is not meant to hinder our understanding but to convey the concepts being described accurately. Even if these words are not common in our everyday vocabulary, we can understand them if we are willing to take the time to define them, see how they are used in the New Testament, and examine how they fit in the context of the passages in which they are used.Continue Reading

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April 23, 2025

Thoughts on Raising Money for a Church Building

Building Construction

It seems that most churches, at least in the United States, have a building in which to meet that has been bought or built by the church. Many other churches, particularly those outside of the United States, would like to build or otherwise acquire a place to meet but lack the financial means to do so. What should be done in such cases? How might churches raise money to build or purchase a meeting place that is in harmony with Biblical principles and instructions? Let us consider a few points.*Continue Reading

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April 21, 2025

Big Words in the Bible (Part 5): Resurrection

Big Words in the Bible

The final word we will discuss in our series is resurrection. It is likely the one with which we are the most familiar. There is a lot we could say about it, but we will consider some highlights to show why this word is so important. As we will see, without this, none of the other words we have studied in this series would matter.

“Paul, a bond-servant of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, which He promised beforehand through His prophets in the holy Scriptures, concerning His Son, who was born of a descendant of David according to the flesh, who was declared the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead, according to the Spirit of holiness, Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles for His name’s sake, among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ…” (Romans 1:1-6).

The word translated as “resurrection” (anastasis) means a raising from the dead. It describes one being raised to new life. Jesus died on the cross and was raised from the dead, which gives us hope beyond this life.Continue Reading

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