For many people, the season known as Easter has become a celebration of Spring - a time for anticipating nicer weather, picnics, egg hunts, rabbits, candy, chocolate, jelly beans, Spring Break, etc., etc. The commercial establishment also capitalizes on this time by announcing a sale, encouraging all of us to show up for church in our Sunday best. While there may be nothing wrong with some of these things, is this really what this holy season is all about?
The Bible tells us that the real … Continue Reading ››
HOSANNA is a word that we often hear in worship services, for it is frequently used in the lyrics of great old hymns and modern worship songs. Most of us have probably sung the words of Theodulf’s beautiful hymn during a Palm Sunday service:
All glory, laud, and honor, To Thee, Redeemer, King, To Whom the lips of children, Make sweet Hosannas ring.
Indeed, Hosanna is a word we should sing often and loudly, singing “Hosanna’s in the highest” to our Redeemer and King, Christ Jesus. But do we … Continue Reading ››
"Turn us again, O God, and cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved" (Psalm 80:3).
This verse is a prayer, and the truth contained therein is at least threefold.
1. REPENTANCE IN PRAYER - "Turn us again, O God"
That is to say, "We have been doing evil, and now we desire to do good. We have been going the wrong way, and now we desire to go the right way." Only the Lord can make this change in the heart of individuals, but He … Continue Reading ››
"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek" (Romans 1:16).
This wonderful text refers to the greatest gospel preacher of all time -- the apostle Paul; the greatest Person of all the ages -- the Lord Jesus Christ; the greatest power in all the universe -- the power of God; and the greatest purpose in eternity -- the salvation of the … Continue Reading ››
"Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it" (John 2:5b).
At the wedding feast in Cana of Galilee, the mother of Jesus spoke to servants in the words of this text. What they did, they were doing for Jesus. Today the Lord calls on all believers to serve for Him and His kingdom. In the words of four other Bible texts we will see the method, the motive, the means, and the manner of service for Jesus Christ.
1. THE METHOD OF SERVICE
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ" (Ephesians 1:3).
With so much bad and depressing news happening in our world, how about a little good news, dear Christian? Ready?
Our sins are forgiven. God is our Father. Jesus is our Friend. The Holy Spirit is our ever-present Comforter and Teacher. The Word of God is our guide. The family of God is our kin. The past with its sin is … Continue Reading ››
"The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts" (Psalm 10:4).
This verse reflects the state of the natural man, or the man apart from Jesus Christ. He will not seek after God. He will not call upon God nor inquire of Him as to what is right or what is wrong, but will do what seems right in his own eyes. The root cause of this attitude of neglecting the Person and the will … Continue Reading ››
"Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God" (2 Corinthians 5:20).
God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself (v. 19), and Christ is in believers continuing this work of reconciliation. Consider the following thoughts and suggestions which grow out of this subject and text:
1. THE PRESENCE OF CHRIST COMFORTS US
Once we receive Christ and confess Him as our Savior and Lord, we are then ready to … Continue Reading ››
Many years ago now, a sobbing little girl stood near a small church from which she had been turned away because it was too crowded. When the pastor of Temple Baptist Church in Philadelphia, Russell H. Conwell, asked her why she was crying, she replied that they could not let her into the Sunday School because there was no more room. He said that he would take her in, and he did so, telling her that one day they should have a room big enough … Continue Reading ››
The Faith Promise Offering for missions is a method of giving with a biblical basis. Chapters 8, 9, and 10 of 2 Corinthians is where we find the scriptural concepts upon which we base this practice. In a nutshell, the Faith Promise Offering for missions is the amount each church member promises to give by faith above his or her tithe during the coming year.
It's been said that the Gospel is like water stored deep in the ground. It's free, but it takes money to … Continue Reading ››
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