The theme of James Chapter 4 is one of admonitions for living a Christian life. “Do you not know that friendship with the world means enmity to God? Whoever is bent on being friendly with the world makes himself an enemy to God......Submit [...]
The book of Titus is a letter written by the Apostle Paul, approximately 62 to 67 A.D., to Titus, a mature brother in Christ. Paul and Titus were missionary traveling companions at one time. Paul had left Titus on the island of Crete to [...]
People think of "luck" as things that happen by chance. But Christians have no chance happenings. As Romans 8:28 teaches, "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." Every detail [...]
I do not ask God why. Why God does things is beyond our comprehension. In the book of Job, Job's three friends tried to give Job reasons for his suffering, but God was displeased with all of their answers. In Job 38:2-4(NLT) God said, “Who [...]
The Apostle Paul records a lengthy explanation regarding the gifts of the spirit in 1 Corinthians chapters 12-14. Paul specifically names the gifts of the spirit in 1 Corinthians 12: 8-11, “To one there is given through the spirit a message of wisdom, to another a [...]
Ephesians 1:4-6, “...even as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined us for adoption to Himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of His will, [...]
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, [...]
