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01 Jan

Instrumental Music in the Book of Revelation

WORSHIP ARTICLE | William Stewart | Kingston, Ontario

In the religious world, there is a basic cognizance of the need to conduct ourselves within the confines of God’s authority. The apostle Paul, when writing to the brethren at Colosse implored, “…whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of hte Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him” (Colossians 3:17). Such demands that we search the Scriptures to know what is and what is not acceptable to the Lord so far as religious practice and doctrine.

When we come to the subject of proper worship in song, just as with any other topic, we must seek to know what pleases the Lord. A practice or teaching may delight us, but we are not the object nor the designer of worship. How does God instruct us to worship in song? Are we to use mechanical instruments, are we to use our voices, or a combination of the two? Read More →

01 Jan

Becoming Like Jesus: Prayer in the Life of Jesus

APPLICATION ARTICLE | Bruce Reeves | Conway, Arkansas

Jesus was not only the Master Teacher; He was also the Master of prayer. He prayed so frequently and faithfully that Luke records that after He finished praying in a certain place one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray…” (Luke 11:1). There are times when we should turn to God in prayer, but don’t. Thus, it is very helpful to consider the moments when Jesus turned to His Father in prayer. While prayer was a constant spiritual discipline in Christ’s life, there were pivotal moments when prayer was a significant source of power for Him. By considering Jesus’s example we can follow our Savior more fervently and deeply in our prayer life. Read More →

01 Jan

The Furtherance of the Gospel

EVANGELISM ARTICLE | Jim Mickells | Lewisburg, Tennessee

When Paul wrote his second epistle to Timothy, he told this young evangelist to commit what he had heard from this great apostle to faithful men who would be able to teach others (2 Timothy 2:2). All who are faithful to the Lord should be concerned with fulfilling the great commission, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19). In the next verse of the commission, the ones who had made disciples were told “teaching them to observe all things I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:20). What had Jesus just told the eleven disciples (Matthew 28:16) which those who were converted were to imitate? Go make disciples. Each member of the body of Christ should be busy trying to teach the gospel of Christ to the lost, which when obeyed will save their souls by the grace of God (Romans 1:16). Read More →

01 Jan

Of Kisses and Betrayals and Swords and Ears

BEYOND THE BASICS | Scott Long | Marietta, Pennsylvania

As Jesus neared the end of his earthly life, He looked forward to celebrating the last Passover meal with His apostles.

“When the hour had come, He sat down, and the twelve apostles with Him. Then He said to them, ‘With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer.'” (Luke 22:14-15)

During that short time in the upper room, Jesus taught His disciples, prayed for them, washed their feet, and instituted the Lord’s supper, among other acts. Read More →

10 Oct

The Hall of Faith: Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Jesus, and Us

EXPOSITORY ARTICLE | Shane Carrington | Sulphur Springs, Texas

Introduction

The story of Israel is the story of Jesus. God’s plan for bringing Christ to the world was earnestly set in motion from the time God promised Abraham that his descendants would become a great nation. God told him,

“Go forth from your country, and from your relatives and from your father’s house, to the land which I will show you; and I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great; and so you shall be a blessing; and I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed” (Genesis 12:1-3).

How Christ Relates to the Church: Bridegroom

CHURCH ARTICLE | Shawn Chancellor | Amarillo, Texas

The Book of Revelation is filled with awesome images of suffering, judgment, and triumph. These images, in turn, frighten and inspire as we read of fierce beasts that seek to destroy the faithful and various depictions of Jesus, always victorious and always with the faithful. One such view of Jesus is in Revelation 19, tucked between the judgment of the Great Harlot who had become “drunk with the blood of the saints” (Revelation 17:6; 18:1-24), and His victory over the armies of the beast (Revelation 19:11-19). In Revelation 19:7, the voice of a great multitude (Revelation 19:6) cries out, “Let us rejoice and be glad and give glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His bride has made herself ready.” If this image were not so jarring in its context, it would be easy to overlook because of the enormity of the scenes surrounding it. A wedding announcement just before the most critical battle in the entire book? Yes, and this simple statement may help us to understand the point of the whole book. Read More →

10 Oct

Instrumental Music in the New Testament

WORSHIP ARTICLE | William Stewart | Kingston, Ontario

In a previous article, we looked at Instrumental Music in the Old Testament (click here). We noted several instances of instrumental music used in worship as well as direct commands for such. Now, we want to focus on the New Testament. Do we see examples of worship with instruments? Are there any commands to play instruments in worship? What was the manner of music used by the early church as directed by the Spirit-inspired apostles? Read More →

10 Oct

Becoming Like Jesus: How to Handle Conflicts and Disagreements

APPLICATION ARTICLE | Lee Edgar Elkins | Jacksonville, Arkansas

How often have we mishandled a conflict or disagreement with someone? As currently practiced by our Western culture, anytime there is a conflict or disagreement, it is safe to say that an argument is likely to follow if it has not already taken place. Over the years, I started to see that I did not always have to attend every argument I was invited to. Another thing I began to realize in my life is that not every disagreement has to turn into an argument. Unfortunately, this is typically what takes place in our society. Read More →

10 Oct

The Great Commission

EVANGELISM ARTICLE | Wayne Goff | Kansas City, Missouri

“And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen.” (Matthew 28:18-20)

Contextually speaking, the great commission of Matthew 28 was given to the eleven apostles (v. 16) shortly before Jesus ascended into heaven. It was not given to every Christian, but every Christian should feel the obligation to share the gospel with friends, family, acquaintances, and even foes, if they will listen. We say this because after the apostles began preaching the great commission in Acts 2, those three thousand plus who were converted “continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine” (Acts 2:42). Read More →

10 Oct

What is “the Mystery” in the New Testament?

BEYOND THE BASICS | Jeff Smith | Gainesville, Virginia

The most likely association made when “mystery” is mentioned is to the mystery literary genre. We think of authors like Arthur Conan-Doyle, Agatha Christie, and G. K. Chesterton, and their famous fictional sleuths, Sherlock Holmes, Hercule Poirot, and Father Brown. Their characters are artfully crafted. Plots are intricately woven. Facts are strategically and stingily meted to keep the reader guessing “who done it” until the great reveal at the climax of the work. Although popular and entertaining, this is not Biblical mystery.

“Mystery” may also suggest mysticism. Practitioners of Mysticism seek to become one with God, often through some sort of altered consciousness that may be drug induced. Ironically, such religions maintain that true knowledge is unattainable, or nearly so. Mystics teach that it is important to grasp for and grapple with lofty ideals. Disciples are locked in a closed loop of ever-reaching for an ever-elusive goal. This is not biblical mystery, either. Read More →