An article in 2017 by a group that conducts research on cultural trends related to religion reported that one-tenth of the population self-identify as Christians and strongly agree that faith is important in their life but are “de-churched.” “De-churched” is a term the article uses to refer to people who have “attended church” in the … [Read more…]
It is said that the original meaning of the proverb “See no evil, hear no evil, and speak no evil” is that one should avoid involvement in all evil. But over time, the phrase has come to describe the idea of turning a blind eye to wrong or ignoring bad behavior by pretending not to … [Read more…]
If I were the devil teaching the church how to grow, I would try to convince them that an increase in numbers is the true gauge of spiritual growth and that large numbers indicate approval from God. But Jesus said this: “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the … [Read more…]
When you depart this earthly life, will it matter, concerning your eternal destiny, whether… …your mother or father were righteous or wicked? No. Your eternal destiny will depend upon the deeds you’ve done in your body. “The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not bear the guilt of the father, nor the father … [Read more…]
What might one preach if he were asked to preach something non-controversial? Perhaps he could preach a sermon about the one true God “who made the world and everything in it,” (Acts 17:24). But that would be controversial to the idolater, just as with some in Athens who mocked when Paul preached that truth. For … [Read more…]
“For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit, by whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison, who formerly were disobedient, when once the Divine longsuffering waited in … [Read more…]
In his second letter to the Corinthians, Paul warns them of men who claim to be apostles but are “false apostles, deceitful workers” (2 Corinthians 11:13). By contrast, Paul had demonstrated the authentic signs of apostleship among them (12:12). Paul was not like those who claimed to be apostles but were not, and he points … [Read more…]
“But now after you have known God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage? You observe days and months and seasons and years. I am afraid for you, lest I have labored for you … [Read more…]
After Jesus had spoken the parable of the sower, he said “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!” (Matthew 13:9) Barring something like a birth defect or accident, all men have ears. But all do not have ears to hear. Jesus tells us the problem is not in one’s physical ear but in … [Read more…]
“By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain” (Hebrews 11:4). The Lord did not respect Cain and his offering, and Cain was very angry, and his face was gloomy. “So the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? If you do well, will you … [Read more…]