May 9, 2010

Seeking God

Man at Night

When Paul was in Athens, a city full of idolatry, he found opportunity to teach them about the one true God. He was to them “an Unknown God” (Acts 17:23). God does not want to be unknown to His creation, but has instilled in us the desire to seek after Him. Paul explained this to the Athenians:

“He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation, that they would seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us” (Acts 17:26-27).

God wants us to seek for Him and He is not far off. But does this mean we can seek after God in whatever way we wish, doing what seems good to us and expecting that God will be pleased? There are many who think this way, but it is not what God wants from those who would seek after Him.
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November 6, 2009

A Call for Praise to the Lord

Psalm 100 is a call for all men to praise the Lord. It also reminds us of the reasons we are to praise Him and what our attitude should be in our praise.

“Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth.

“Serve the Lord with gladness; come before Him with joyful singing.

“Know that the Lord Himself is God; it is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people and the sheep of His pasture.

“Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him, bless His name.

“For the Lord is good; His lovingkindness is everlasting and His faithfulness to all generations.”

There are four points in this psalm that relate to our praise to God.
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July 11, 2009

Why Do We Assemble?

Pews

The New Testament gives three reasons why it is important for Christians to assemble:

  1. We assemble to worship God (John 4:24).
  2. We assemble to encourage our brethren (Hebrews 10:25).
  3. We assemble to gain encouragement from our brethren (Hebrews 10:25).

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July 1, 2009

Making the Most of Your Time

Pocket Watch

Each one of us is busy with obligations and responsibilities that have been placed upon us and that we have taken upon ourselves. Our lives can be hectic and we sometimes wonder how we will ever have time to do what we need to do. This is just as much of a challenge for Christians as it is for anyone else.

Paul provided some instructions about time management that would be good for us to heed:

“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).

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April 1, 2009

A Worship “Experience”

Worship Experience

Many people in the religious world talk about the worship “experience.” What exactly is a worship experience? You will not find this term in the Bible. So what do people mean when they use it?

The worship experience has to do with the worship service in a local church. The experience refers to all the things involved in the service – the message, the music (typically performed by a band), the atmosphere (lighting, décor, etc.). All of these things are part of this “experience.” The things that one sees, hears, and feels make up the worship experience.
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March 11, 2009

Jesus on the Glorification of Mary

Mary and Jesus

Many people in the religious world – particularly among the Catholic Church – exalt Mary, the earthly mother of Jesus, to a higher position than where she is placed in the Bible.

It is true that Mary does hold a special place in God’s scheme of redemption. The same is true for people like Abraham, David, or any of the others mentioned in the genealogy of Christ (Matthew 1:1-17; Luke 3:23-38). But some have taken their perception of Mary too far and it has led them to deify her and make her an object of worship and a recipient of prayers.
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February 18, 2009

Turning the Lord’s Supper into a Common Meal

Many disagreements between conservative-minded and liberal-minded brethren center around what is done in the assembly of the local church. One notable point of contention has to do with the practice of the Lord’s Supper. Some are advocating (or already practice this) that we turn the Lord’s Supper into more than just a simple memorial, but make it into a common meal.
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