26 Oct

Worship On The Lord’s Day

WORSHIP ARTICLE | Sean Cavender | Wichita, Kansas

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John states that he was in the Spirit on the “Lord’s Day” (Revelation 1:10), which has been widely accepted and identified as the day Christians assembled to worship. As you read the New Testament, it becomes clear that the early church was committed to worshiping on the first day of the week. Take note of a couple passage:

“On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul began talking to them…” (Acts 20:7, NASB95)

“On the first day of every week each one of you is to put aside and save as he may prosper, so that no collections be made when I come” (1 Corinthians 16:2, NASB95) Read More

26 Oct

Soldiers, Athletes, and Farmers – 2 Timothy 2:3-6

APPLICATION ARTICLE | Brian Sullivan | Jordan, Ontario

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God made our bodies from the dust of the ground (Genesis 3:19; Ecclesiastes 12:7) and breathed life (our spirit) into us (Genesis 2:7). God knows the potential that we have and the strengths that are ours. His work and service allow us to discover some of those capabilities as others did in the Scripture record. We marvel at the list of the faithful Old Testament worthies found in Hebrews 11 and realize that many more people could have been included (Hebrews 11:32-40). We must realize that every person has potential in God’s service. It is not always the person at the forefront or the most recognized that can teach us the clearest lessons about God, life, and living for God. We find that the greatest servants of God are sometimes those that others have not heard of but who carefully and diligently followed God in faith and faithfulness throughout their days. Read More

26 Oct

Nehemiah 3 – A Template for Success in Church Work

EVANGELISM ARTICLE | Joshua Welch | Anderson, Indiana

via Greg Montani | Pixabay.com

The book of Nehemiah takes place during the rule of the Persian Empire. By this time, Israel had been allowed to return from captivity, but the situation for the remnant Jews who returned to Jerusalem was dire. The protective walls around the city had been destroyed and burnt years ago during the captivity, and it left the people who were brave enough to return vulnerable. Therefore, the wall needed to be rebuilt. Nehemiah, the king’s cupbearer, took it upon himself to examine, plan, and oversee this massive project with the king’s providential blessing. Despite opposition in the work, Nehemiah and the people of Israel accomplished this great work together in less than two months (see Nehemiah 6:15). God blesses His people with success when His people put their minds and talents together to work. Read More

26 Oct

Israel’s Place In God’s Plan To Redeem Mankind

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BEYOND THE BASICS | William Stewart | Kingston, Ontario

To understand Israel’s role in God’s plan, we need to start with the threefold promise made to Abram in Genesis 12:1-3, 7. There we find God’s promise to (1) make a great nation from Abram, (2) bless them with a land, and (3) bless all families of the earth through him.

The nation promise was fulfilled when Joshua brought the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt. Deuteronomy 26:5 states, “…My father was a Syrian, about to perish, and he went down to Egypt and dwelt there, few in number; and there he became a nation, great, mighty, and populous.” Thus, God fulfilled His promise, and Israel was set to fulfill their role in God’s plan. Read More

06 Jul

The Divine Nature : 2 Peter 1:3-7

EXPOSITORY ARTICLE | Chadwick Brewer | Richmond, Virginia

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Peter’s preamble is poignant and powerful. Everything that follows is predicated on God’s divine power granting us all thing that pertain to life and godliness (v. 3). It is God who moves first to establish a relationship with man. It is not man that starts to build that relationship. In fact, man cannot. Read More

06 Jul

The Bride Of Christ

CHURCH ARTICLE | Wayne Goff | Kansas City, Missouri

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The Union
Ephesians 5:25-33 describes the relationship of the church (God’s people) to Jesus Christ (Head). While comparing this relationship to an earthly marriage, the Scriptures teach us that Jesus Christ is the Head of His bride and Savior. The corresponding obligation of Christ’s bride is to be subject to Jesus Christ in everything. This obligation is explained further (vv. 25-27) to be due to the tremendous sacrifice Jesus made for His bride! He loved her, and He died for her. He cleansed her with His blood through the washing of water by the word. If these sacrifices were not enough, Paul states even further that Christ sacrificed Himself for her that He might present her to Himself a glorious, spotless bride that is holy and without blemish! Read More

06 Jul

“Lord, Teach Us To Pray”

WORSHIP ARTICLE | Jesse Flowers | Cookeville, Tennessee

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Without question, prayer is a major Bible doctrine and subject referenced throughout the Scriptures. It is one of the greatest spiritual blessings the child of God is afforded to enjoy in Christ Jesus (Eph. 1:3). How wonderful and incredible that our loving and caring heavenly Father has provided to His children this means of communication with Him! Read More

06 Jul

The Dangers of Not Growing

APPLICATION ARTICLE | Reagan McClenny | Lufkin, Texas

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2 Peter 1:5-7 describes “adding” important qualities to our Christian character. Some people describe this list as a ladder with each quality as a rung, but that can leave the wrong impression. These are not qualities that we work on one at a time and leave one “complete” to move on the next. Instead, a better image is of a single instrument playing, and another and another are added in perfect harmony until a full orchestra is playing. So, when all the instruments are added, is the process complete? I would suggest that the process is only beginning in earnest! A high school orchestra has (basically) all the same instruments as a professional one. The primary difference in the quality of their performance is a matter of growth. Read More

06 Jul

A Tale Of Three Cities

EVANGELISM ARTICLE | Sean Cavender | Wichita, Kansas

via Russell Yan | Pixabay.com

It is curious how one person can preach and teach the same thing in various places yet yield many different responses from their audience. This frequently happens in the New Testament, especially in the apostle Paul’s preaching. In Acts 17, when Paul was on his second missionary journey, he departed Philippi. he came to three cities in rapid succession: Thessalonica, Berea, and Athens. Although Paul was forced to leave those cities because of persecution, he made the best use of his time by preaching the gospel of King Jesus. Paul varied his approach based upon who his audience was. He would speak to Jews differently than to idolatrous Gentiles. Yet, the gospel was unchanged: salvation was through God’s appointed Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth. Read More

06 Jul

Counterfeit Christianity

BEYOND THE BASICS ARTICLE | William Stewart | Odessa, Ontario

via Sammy Williams | Unsplash.com

Caveat emptor is an old maxim regarding the acquisition of goods. It is Latin for “let the buyer beware.” Charlatans and swindlers are always ready to take advantage of unsuspecting patrons. If we are not careful (and sometimes even when we thought we were careful) we can be cheated by forgeries and bogus items, whether it be artwork, sports memorabilia, clothing, electronics, nutritional supplements, or even food products. The prevalence of online shopping today has opened a massive opportunity for con artists to dupe buyers. Indeed, caveat emptor! Read More