There are seven churches listed in Revelation chapters two and three. I believe that every church, in any place or time, can point at one of the seven churches and say, "There we are." In other words, every church holds the characteristics of one of the seven churches. If we look back at church history, … Continue reading Fixing The Church
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The Next Full Moon
As I was up before sunrise this morning, I gazed at the full moon in the western sky - the last full moon of winter. I could not help but think of the next full moon, the first of the spring season marking the coming of Easter. My mind went back two thousand years and … Continue reading The Next Full Moon
Poor In Spirit
"Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." - Matthew 5:3. Look at the promise given to the poor in spirit! The kingdom of heaven, which is salvation, eternal life. You may be thinking, "I thought salvation was through faith." It is. There are hundreds of verses that announce that … Continue reading Poor In Spirit
Faith and Truth
Eternal salvation comes through faith, by grace. Ephesians 2:8-9, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." The Bible explains that everyone is a sinner, and the washing away of sin can only happen by the … Continue reading Faith and Truth
Shake, Rattle, and Roll
Last Thursday, Indiana experienced an earthquake. I have lived in Indiana for almost forty years, and this is only the second earth shaking I have felt here. Decades ago, I lived in California for three years and experienced multiple quakes, including one measuring 6.1. The shakeup Thursday was only a 3.8, but the epicenter was … Continue reading Shake, Rattle, and Roll
Itching Ears And The Power Of God
The goal of this week's column is twofold. One, to convince preachers to preach something more than fuzzy-wuzzy, "God loves you sermons." Two, to prevail upon people to attend churches that preach the truth and stomps on your toes from time to time. The Bible speaks of a time when congregations will have "itching ears" … Continue reading Itching Ears And The Power Of God
Bible Bloodbath
King Solomon built the first Jewish Temple. When completed, a dedication ceremony took place. At the ceremony, the Hebrews made sacrifices. The Bible tells us, "the people offered sacrifices before the LORD" and that "king Solomon offered a sacrifice..." (2 Chronicles 7:4-5). The Bible does not tell us how many people came with a sacrifice. … Continue reading Bible Bloodbath
Heart, Mind, And Soul.
Jesus had a way of having the last word. A good example is when the scribes and Pharisees brought to Jesus the woman "taken in adultery." After He said, "He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her" (John 8:7), all the woman's accusers left. There was nothing more … Continue reading Heart, Mind, And Soul.
What Has God Done With The Law?
The law, you know the ten commandments and the seemingly endless list of dos and don'ts that people think appear throughout the Bible. What has God done with the law? Handling of the law varies from church to church, and person to person. Some churches regulate nearly every aspect of someone's life, while others seem … Continue reading What Has God Done With The Law?
Sitting, Standing, Running, Rising
When reading the events of and surrounding the Crucifixion of Christ, it is interesting to watch how people respond. The self-righteousness of Caiaphas, the High Priest, as he refuses to put the blood money that came from the treasury back into the coffers. Governor Pilate as he struggles with his agonizing question, “What is truth?” … Continue reading Sitting, Standing, Running, Rising
Preacher's Point 