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Any number of issues vex the church today as it attempts to be genuinely tolerant, joyfully inclusive and meaningfully relevant – honestly loving people – while standing firm for decency and scriptural holiness. It’s a difficult balancing act to maintain, similar to Paul’s call for confidence……  ( Click for more )

Jesus’ teachings are packed with allusions to the Torah, the Prophets, and the Writings. His three favorite books, based on the number of times he referenced them, being Deuteronomy – from the Torah , Isaiah – from the Prophets, and Psalms – from the Writings. These books representing……  ( Click for more )

Such is the cry of all self-indulgent people throughout history. “…rebellious people, deceitful children,… unwilling to listen to the Lord’s instruction.” Is. 30:9 Those who do, “…not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God,…” Rom. 1:28; and thus……  ( Click for more )

Judas, like Benedict Arnold, has become synonymous with treachery and betrayal. While the other Apostles’ shortcomings offer encouragement in their depiction of common people attempting to follow an uncommon God and being used in remarkable ways as a result; Judas Iscariot stands as a warning……  ( Click for more )

The Bible says the least about Nathanael, James the Less and Thaddaeus, yet what it does say is informative and significant. Nathanael first heard of Jesus through his friend Philip, who informed him of his belief that Jesus of Nazareth was indeed the Messiah. (John 1:43-45) Philip’s……  ( Click for more )

Do you ever feel overwhelmed, disappointed, even disgusted by the political/social/moral dilemmas of our day that don't seem to have a reasonable solution? What were once considered social norms have been replaced by the clamor for the freedom to do – literally – whatever the hell people want. The……  ( Click for more )

If you are prone to seeing the obstacles in life rather than the possibilities (John 6:5-7) and have trouble getting beyond the details that tend to obscure vision rather than expanding it (John 14:8, 9), then you may have more than a little in common with Philip. No Jewish name is given……  ( Click for more )

Matthew was probably descended from the priestly tribe of Levi (Lk. 5:27, 28), but at first glance seems the least likely to be called or respond positively to Jesus’ invitation to follow him; yet his response was immediate. Notorious by virtue of his occupation – a publican or tax collector……  ( Click for more )

I believe in equal rights for women but am not a women’s libber; I believe in equality between all people but don’t ascribe to many of the various “movements” today because of their propensity for radicalism. I am most certainly against the idea of gender fluidity and/or neutrality and vigorously……  ( Click for more )

From the first moment to the last, the disciples struggled to understand the full impact of Jesus’ invitation to, “Come, follow me,…” (Mat. 4:19); failing to fully comprehend the extent to which this call would take them out of their comfort zones and the demands it would make on their lives.……  ( Click for more )

People tend to idealize and even idolize those they admire, Christians being no exception. And while respect should be shown, we must never forget that all of us have our own peculiarities and foibles – weaknesses and strengths. Placing others on a pedestal virtually guarantees disappointment, discouragement……  ( Click for more )

Kathleen Parker is a syndicated columnist, writing for the Associated Press and distributed to numerous news outlets across the country. And while I haven’t always agreed with everything she has written, she is usually balanced in her approach to the newsworthy topics she chooses to comment on. One topic she……  ( Click for more )

In corroboration of last week’s look at Christian fruitfulness/faithfulness, several more scriptural exhortations are available to demonstrate Jesus’ expectations of us after salvation is granted by God’s grace. None are in opposition to that divine principle, as “…it is by grace you have……  ( Click for more )

When Jesus was gathering his first disciples, what did he mean when he said, “Come, follow me,…”? Immediately following that challenge with, “…and I will make you fishers of men.” Mat. 4:19 Several were already fishermen, aware of the tricks of their trade; the nuances of different……  ( Click for more )

In speaking of God’s purpose for mankind, St. Augustine declared, “You have made us for yourself,…”; which when truly understood enables us to find direction and contentment in our relationship with Him. He went on to assert that,”…our hearts are restless until they find rest……  ( Click for more )

Many church members today take pride in our country’s Christian heritage, and they are right to do so; even though not all our founders nor early citizens were faithful believers. Our ethics, concepts of right and wrong – good, better, and best – and many of our legal precepts were indeed grounded……  ( Click for more )

James asks, “...do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that his faith and his actions were working together and his faith was made complete by what he……  ( Click for more )

“…but immediately goes to work in the life of the believer.” With this statement John MacArthur sums up information presented in The Gospel According To Jesus and its sequel, The Gospel According To The Apostles.1 In them he investigates the two supposedly contradictory schools of thought within……  ( Click for more )

Countless incidents of war, famine and mindless violence at home and abroad have caused uncertainty, trepidation and panic in the minds of many; the end result being a lot of people have been scared witless, a few becoming curious as to what scripture has to say concerning the “end times”, while others……  ( Click for more )

“…for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it.” Have you ever seriously considered that possibility? Abraham comes immediately to mind as having done so. (Gen. 18:1-33) Abraham’s nephew Lot was later rewarded for his hospitality offered to two – unbeknownst……  ( Click for more )

I’ve heard a number of preachers speak on the idea of acting our way to belief. Not by faking it but by doing the God-expected thing, even when we don’t feel like it; expressing faith when we’re unsure, being faithful when we don’t see the benefit of doing so. John 7:16, 17 records Jesus……  ( Click for more )

At a time when the whole world seems to be taking stock of the past while holding its breath and crossing its fingers, hoping for a better future; the ideal of thankfulness can be difficult to achieve. That being the case, I believe a revisiting of the theme of gratefulness, as well as thanksgiving would be appropriate. ……  ( Click for more )

The past two weeks have been spent in examining the possible significance of a repetitive phrase appearing exclusively in John’s rendition of the gospel story; rendered “Verily, verily” in the KJ, “Truly, truly” in the NASB, “I tell you the truth” in the NIV. Used as……  ( Click for more )

Last week we looked at the Apostle John’s singular use of the phrase, “Verily, verily, I say unto you...” A declarative statement rendered, “Truly, truly, I say unto you...” in the NASB; “I tell you the truth...” in the NIV; that Jesus used to get everyone’s attention.……  ( Click for more )