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This week we’re going to be talking about some “pastors” who are responding to abortion now being illegal in their state by driving women across state lines in order to obtain an abortion. Why would a “pastor” do this? And why do abortion advocates see that as the only “choice”? We will consider these questions in this episode.Continue Reading
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This week we’re going to be talking about the level of commitment among church members toward the work of the local congregation. A survey of “pastors” found that the vast majority of them said that “apathy or a lack of commitment” is the primary challenge they face among the people of their congregation. This attitude will cripple a church. In this episode, we want to talk about what is expected of us as members of a local church. Continue Reading
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This week we’re going to be talking about whether Christians need other Christians in order to follow the Lord, or if we can be faithful to God without other believers. This is an important topic, especially in light of the year we have had with the pandemic and the lockdowns, closures, and isolation for many that followed.Continue Reading
“‘Our fathers worshiped in this mountain, and you people say that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.’ Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, believe Me, an hour is coming when neither in this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers. God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth’” (John 4:20-24).
In this chapter, Jesus spoke with a Samaritan woman by a well. The discussion covered several topics, one of which was the issue of worship. After she “perceived” Jesus to be “a prophet” (John 4:19), she brought up a question about worship. In Jesus’ answer, He explained to her some basic principles about worship. These instructions are helpful for us as well.
In this article, we are going to look at what Jesus said to the Samaritan woman and what He teaches about God’s plan for worship. There are four basic points we can take from His instruction on this occasion.Continue Reading
The New Testament repeatedly warns about drifting; in particular, drifting away from the faith. This can be done either individually or collectively.
There is always a danger that any one of us – or any one of our churches – could drift away from the faith. However, Paul also warned about a great apostasy that was coming not long after his lifetime.
“Let no one in any way deceive you, for it [the return of Christ, as] will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God. Do you not remember that while I was still with you, I was telling you these things?” (2 Thessalonians 2:3-5).
Paul explained that this “mystery of lawlessness [was] already at work” (2 Thessalonians 2:7). As he described this “man of lawlessness,” he was not referring to one person, but an attitude. This apostasy would take place over some period of time. It was a spirit of error, an attitude that led Christians to depart from the pattern revealed in the New Testament. It was “restrained” for a time (2 Thessalonians 2:6-7) by the persecution from the Roman authorities. However, once that opposition was removed, the departures from the faith would increase exponentially.Continue Reading
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This week we’re discussing the topic of “complementarianism” – a fancy word referring to the belief that men and women have different (complementary) roles in the home and in the church. This idea is not popular in the world today – even the religious world. Yet we need to recognize and uphold what the Bible teaches about this.Continue Reading
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This past Sunday, many made it a point to attend a worship service for Easter. However, there are now a majority of Americans who are not members of any local church. Yet the local church is part of God’s plan and our membership in a local church is important. Following the influence of the religious world in this regard will result in weaker churches and weaker Christians. In this episode, we will discuss why church membership is important.
STORY – Fewer Than Half of Americans Belong to a Church
“For the first time since it began its survey eight decades ago, Gallup finds that fewer than half of Americans have a formal membership in a local church.
“‘The U.S. remains a religious nation, with more than seven in 10 affiliating with some type of organized religion. However, far fewer, now less than half, have a formal membership with a specific house of worship,’ Gallup said.
“The survey, which began in 1937, found only 47% of Americans have a formal membership in a church.
“‘While it is possible that part of the decline seen in 2020 was temporary and related to the coronavirus pandemic, continued decline in future decades seems inevitable, given the much lower levels of religiosity and church membership among younger versus older generations of adults.’” (WND)
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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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