We have reached the end of 2024, so it is time for the annual “Top 5” post on Plain Bible Teaching. It is always interesting to go back and see what content has been viewed the most. It also gives me an idea of what materials have been most helpful to others. If you missed these articles, podcast episodes, and videos when they were posted, be sure to check them out. They are divided into the top 5 articles (new and old), Facebook posts, podcasts, videos, and YouTube Shorts.Continue Reading
In the book Sketches of Our Mountain Pioneers, Preston Gray spoke highly of the preaching of A. I. Myhr (1855-1933). He also recalled a criticism Myhr made of another unnamed preacher.
“Myhr’s visits to all our churches were great occasions. The people soon learned to expect something. He was a thinker, and positively despised sluggish thinking. Of a certain minister, he said to me, one day, ‘He is a capital fellow, but when he preaches, all the points are filed off.’ He told me that he liked sermons and thoughts that had ‘stickers’ in them.” (Sketches of Our Mountain Pioneers, p. 203)
The gospel, when it is preached in its simplicity and purity, is going to have “stickers” that will “prick” people to the heart and spur them to obey the Lord. Notice what happened on the day of Pentecost following the resurrection and ascension of Jesus:
“‘Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ this Jesus whom you crucified.’ Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, ‘Brethren, what shall we do?’” (Acts 2:36-37).
At the beginning of his short epistle, Jude said Christians are to “contend earnestly for the faith” (Jude 3). This includes “destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God” (2 Corinthians 10:5). Therefore, of necessity, we must oppose false doctrine and those who teach error.
However, when it comes to identifying false teachers by name, there is disagreement among brethren about whether this is appropriate. Many believe we cannot label someone as a false teacher unless we go to that person first. Is that something we should be required to do?Continue Reading
The New Testament repeatedly emphasizes the togetherness of brethren in the early church. The fellowship that they shared was based upon their common faith – “those who had believed were together” (Acts 2:44). When John wrote his first epistle, he explained that “our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ,” and that they could “have fellowship with [each other]” through the proclamation of the gospel (1 John 1:3). As we have fellowship with God, we are naturally to have fellowship with the people of God.
Shortly after the church was established on the day of Pentecost, Luke recorded that those first Christians were not just meeting together but were also eating together.
“Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved” (Acts 2:46-47).
Many churches – even among churches of Christ – host what are sometimes called “fellowship meals.” These meals are hosted by a congregation and conducted as part of the church’s work. In fact, when many people hear the word fellowship, they automatically think of food. But is a church-sponsored meal what we read about in the passage above? If not, is a local church at least authorized to facilitate its members “taking their meals together” as part of its work? There are a few points I want us to consider.Continue Reading
“But have nothing to do with worldly fables fit only for old women. On the other hand, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness; for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. It is a trustworthy statement deserving full acceptance. For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers” (1 Timothy 4:7-10).
People often talk about developing good habits, such as eating healthy, exercising regularly, and reading more books. Turning worthwhile practices into habits can be incredibly helpful because it allows us to do the good things we intend to do without having to decide to do so each time. This does not mean the practice becomes automatic, but we are much more likely to do good when we have made it a habit.
This can also benefit our spiritual lives, helping us grow to spiritual maturity. As Paul pointed out in the passage above, this is much more important than any discipline we develop in this life. However, to have effective habits, we need to be intentional about them and willing to put in the effort to actually DO them.
Also, these habits we can put in place to develop spiritually are things that each one of us can do, whether someone is a new convert, has recently been restored to the faith, or has been faithfully serving the Lord for decades. At the same time, no one can do these things for us.
So let us consider some spiritual disciplines – regular practices that will help our spiritual development and produce godliness in our lives. For each one, we see what the Lord expects of us, the benefits we gain from these practices, our personal responsibility to engage in each one, and some practical ways to help us stay consistent in doing them.Continue Reading
As we conclude this brief series on gratitude, we have focused on how our ability to be thankful affects our behavior. We have seen that gratitude is the basis of any faithful service to God and will enable us to receive the greatest benefit from prayer.
As we think about the blessings themselves, we need gratitude if we are to appropriately enjoy the good things that God gives us. Notice what Paul told Timothy:
“For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with gratitude; for it is sanctified by means of the word of God and prayer” (1 Timothy 4:4-5).
In our final article in this series, we will consider how to enjoy God’s blessings with gratitude. Let us consider a few thoughts.Continue Reading
Gratitude is about more than just knowing what to be thankful for. A true sense of thanksgiving should necessarily affect our behavior. In the previous article, we saw how gratitude is essential if we are to “offer to God an acceptable service” (Hebrews 12:28). As we will notice in this article, it must also be the foundation of our practice of prayer. Remember what Paul wrote:
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7).
As we pray to God, if we want it to benefit us, we must pray “with thanksgiving.” Let us consider a few points.Continue Reading
What does “propitiation” mean? How is “justification” connected to salvation? What does “sanctification” look like in our day-to-day lives? The Bible uses some powerful words to describe God’s plan to save mankind. However, these words are not always easy to understand, especially when they are not part of our everyday vocabulary. This book explores key Bible terms that unlock the message of the gospel.
Big Words in the Bible examines five important words – Propitiation, Reconciliation, Sanctification, Justification, and Resurrection – using plain language to see how the Scriptures describe these concepts and how the apostle Paul employs them in his letter to the Romans. This book also contains an appendix with eleven additional articles to explore these topics further.
Whether you are new to the Bible and want to grow in your understanding or want a simple way to explain these core gospel doctrines to others, this book will be helpful. With a focus on the Scriptures, Big Words in the Bible helps break down these fundamental topics to shed light on the life-changing message of the gospel and the salvation found in it.
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