Some churches are so focused on numbers that they will do almost anything to boost their numbers – attendance, membership, conversions, etc. Any Christian with a love for the Lord and for others would certainly prefer to see an increase in these numbers, but not at all costs. We need to recognize that there are certain things that are more important than numbers. In this article, we will notice seven of these that are presented to us in the New Testament.Continue Reading
“Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy to gloom” (James 4:9).
In the verse above, James contrasted two different attitudes that people have toward God – one of careless joy, the other of sober humility. The inspired writer was clear in showing which attitude we are to have before God. We are not to take something lightly when the Lord wants us to consider it soberly.
We sometimes label a condition, situation, or event as being “no laughing matter” when someone is taking a light-hearted approach to a serious matter. There are a few occasions in the Bible when this reminder would have been helpful as there were those who took lightly the promises, instructions, or warnings of God. In this article, we are going to consider five of these examples and notice what all of them have in common.Continue Reading
Many people in the religious world talk about having a “personal relationship with Jesus.” On the surface, this may sound good and appealing. After all, is there anyone who believes in Jesus but would not want this?
However, rather than thinking about how this sounds, we ought to consider what this means. In fact, different people may mean different things when they talk about a “personal relationship with Jesus.” Rather than focusing on what people might mean by this, we need to be concerned with what the Bible says. Are we to have a “personal relationship with Jesus”? If so, what is this relationship to look like? This is what we will consider in this article.Continue Reading
Often when a sermon is being concluded, the preacher will make an invitation that includes a call for Christians to make a public confession of sin. This is typically done for sins that are public in nature. Sometimes this is simply mentioned in passing. Other times a Bible passage will be cited, but often is not read or explained.
Because we hear this so often, this sort of public confession of sin is often assumed by brethren to be necessary without giving it much thought. But is it necessary? Is it authorized? Is it expedient? In this article, I would like for us to consider the practice of Christians publicly confessing sins.Continue Reading
Our lives are shaped by our priorities. The time, energy, and resources we have are limited. Therefore, we will inevitably spend them on what is important to us. To make significant changes in our lives requires us to change our priorities.
What should be most important to us? The Bible shows us what our highest priorities should be. We need to see what the Scriptures teach and examine our lives and priorities to see if we are what we ought to be. So in this article, let us notice what the Bible has to say about our highest priorities.Continue Reading
There are many ways in which Christians show themselves to be different from the world. One of these is in the way we dress. The Bible emphasizes the importance of dressing in “modest apparel” (1 Timothy 2:9, KJV). Therefore, as we have the obligation to “speak as the oracles of God” (1 Peter 4:11, KJV), it is important for us to emphasize this as well.
However, when it comes to raising children, we may wonder how early parents need to be concerned with having their children dress modestly. When does it become important for parents to be sure their children are dressed in this way? When they turn eighteen? When they become teenagers? Or should this begin much earlier, perhaps when the children are toddlers? The time to start this may be earlier than many expect.
In this article, I want us to consider some reasons why dressing modestly is important for young children.Continue Reading
It is wise for us to be preparing for the future. However, when many people think of this, their mind goes to things like summer vacations, saving for college, and planning for retirement. While there is certainly nothing wrong with making these sorts of preparations, we need to place a priority on preparing for our future that extends beyond our lives here in this world.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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