The Apostle Paul explains the duty of bishops or pastors by saying: “This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desires a good work” (1 Timothy 3:1). He then introduces a set of principles for the nomination [...]
Some drugs are hallucinogenic. They disrupt the brain's normal, healthy operations and make people see, hear, and smell hallucinations. This is very dangerous. Some people have experienced psychotic breaks due to taking those drugs. Also, since this drugs misrepresent reality, they are distorting God’s [...]
"Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when [...]
12 Step programs can be a great blessing. These programs are designed for people with addictions or behaviors they cannot stop. The first three steps help the person to acknowledge he is out of control, powerless over the addiction. Then he recognizes God can [...]
John the Baptist immersed Jews into the Jordan River with the baptism of repentance. Acts. 19:4, “John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.” Therefore, John’s purpose was to [...]
Music was an important element of Jewish temple/synagogue worship and probably influenced the music of the early Christian church. The New Testament records that early Christian worship included singing of psalms from the Old Testament. Subsequently, Christians composed their own hymns. Music has [...]
This text begins: “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing [...]
1 Timothy 1:9-11 (NIV), “We also know that the law is made not for the righteous but for lawbreakers and rebels, the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreligious, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, for the sexually immoral, for [...]
In this situation, it is important to determine if the pastor knows he has verbally hurt someone. If not, (sometimes our words unintentionally hurt another), then the person who feels wronged, should directly contact and talk to that pastor. Jesus gave this instruction in [...]
Worship is defined in Webster’s Dictionary, 1828 as to “Worship is to honor with extravagant love and extreme submission.” Many honest and sincere Christians think that if you love God and give glory to God, that this is enough. Some quote the Apostle Paul: [...]
1 Peter teaches the truths of faith and holiness to the “elect” (1:2, Colossians 3:12), both Jewish and Gentile converts to Christianity. The “elect” are a class chosen by God to be developed into Christ’s character image (Romans 8:29) . God did not predestinate [...]
Jesus and his apostles healed many people! Mark 6:13, “…And they were casting out many demons and were anointing with oil many sick people and healing them.” But they did not heal themselves. The Apostle Paul prayed to be relieved from what appears to have [...]
A word for “abortion” is not found in the Bible; however, an unborn baby or fetus is considered alive by God. Exodus 21:22, 23 illustrates the value God puts on an unborn baby. “If people are fighting and hit a pregnant woman and she [...]
Proverbs 10:22, “The blessing of the LORD makes rich, and he adds no sorrow with it.” (ESV) This scripture explains that wealth gained only by human effort and for earthly purposes causes hardships and sorrows. However, if the underlying action is a blessing from God, [...]
It is the body of laws encompassed in the Law Covenant which do apply to Christians. The Law Covenant was made between God and Israel only. In the early church, Jews who became Christians were confused as to whether they still needed to keep [...]
All Christian are held to the high standard of the law of love. Love teaches that no husband should beat his wife or anyone! James 2:8 (NLT), “…obey the royal law as found in the Scriptures: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ ” Malachi 2:14-15 [...]
Matthew 7:1-2 (NIV), “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged…” Luke 6:37, “Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and [...]
When a Christian and a non-Christian marry, that couple is considered unequally yoked. 2 Corinthians 6:14-18 (NIV) advises, “do not be yoked together with unbelievers.” Deuteronomy 22:10 tells us, “Do not plow with an ox and a donkey yoked together." A yoke is a wooden [...]
Remorse leads to us to reflect on our behavior. We realize that what we did was wrong and caused pain. When God created man, He endowed each of us with a conscience (Romans 2:15). We never want to violate our consciences as it will [...]
A better understanding may come from the Amplified Bible: "If your right eye serves as a trap to ensnare you or is an occasion for you to stumble and sin, cut it off and cast it from you. It is better that you lose [...]
