Being a Productive Christian

Watch

Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:15-16).

There are many books, articles, and websites dedicated to the subject of productivity. People want to improve how they use their time and work more efficiently and effectively. While being productive is important in the realm of work and business, we should not limit it to those areas of our lives.

The Scriptures teach that we are to be productive in our spiritual lives. Though the word productivity is not used in the Bible, the concept is certainly discussed. In this article, we are going to see what the Bible says about how to be a productive Christian.Continue Reading

Who Knows?

Young man thinking

The Hebrew writer said, “It is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment” (Hebrews 9:27). This is the one thing in our future that is certain – death followed by judgment. Besides that, we cannot say with certainty what will happen in our future. James wrote, “You do not know what your life will be like tomorrow” (James 4:14). The wise man asked, “If no one knows what will happen, who can tell him when it will happen?” (Ecclesiastes 8:7).

Who knows what will happen in the future? None of us do. How then do we approach life with this kind of uncertainty? The Scriptures provide some lessons for us to consider. In this article, we will examine several passages that discuss uncertain futures. In each of them, the phrase “who knows” is used to express the fact that mere men could not know where the events would lead. We will consider the events that were happening and see what lessons we can learn from them.
Continue Reading

What We Should Not Pray

Woman praying

On one occasion, Jesus’ disciples said, “Lord, teach us to pray” (Luke 11:1). It is important that we know how to pray as we should. However, when we think of learning how to pray, we usually think in terms of praying for certain things. Yet there are also some things for which we should not pray.

So in this article, let us consider five things for which we should not pray.
Continue Reading

What We Should Not Pray (Sermon #8)

Subscribe: iTunes | Stitcher | RSS

What We Should Not Pray (Sermon #8)

We’re in between season 4 and season 5 which will start on January 24th. During the break we’re posting audio sermons each week instead of the regular episodes. The sermon for this week was preached on November 27, 2016 at the Eastside church of Christ in Morgantown, KY.

If you found this episode to be useful, please share it with others. Also, if you enjoyed the podcast, please leave a rating on iTunes or Stitcher. This also helps others hear about the podcast. Thanks.

Why We Do What We Do in Worship

Communion Trays

As Christians, we have an obligation to “do all in the name of the Lord” (Colossians 3:17). This means to do things by His authority (cf. Matthew 7:21-23). When it comes to the worship of the church, abiding by what has been authorized in God’s word means we will do those things that we can read about in the New Testament.

So what did the churches in the first century do when they assembled together to worship the Lord? There are five “acts” we can read about in the New Testament:
Continue Reading

Sermon on the Mount (Part 3): A Sincere Life

Sermon on the Mount (Part 3): A Sincere Life

As we continue our study, we will consider how the life of a disciple is a sincere life. Though the word sincere is not used in the verses we will examine, it is certainly the concept under consideration. One who is sincere is one who says what he genuinely feels or believes and is not dishonest or hypocritical. A disciple of Christ cannot be a hypocrite. Our outward actions must be in harmony with our inward thoughts and motivations. The Pharisees were known for their hypocrisy (Matthew 23:2, 13) and Jesus said our righteousness must exceed theirs (Matthew 5:20). As He explained in these verses, the life of a disciple must be a sincere life.
Continue Reading

Elders in Every Church (Part 5): Appointing and Working with Elders

Elders in Every Church (Part 5): Appointing and Working with Elders

Once men have developed to the point that they are qualified to be elders, what comes next? Elders must be appointed. After this, the congregation must work under their oversight. How does this work? And what about a congregation without qualified men to serve as elders? Let us consider these questions in this final lesson.
Continue Reading