EXPOSITORY ARTICLE | Reagan McClenny | Lufkin, Texas
What word immediately comes to your mind to fill in this blank? Rahab the … what? If you’re like me, “Harlot” is the word that comes to mind. Indeed, that’s the way the New Testament authors identify her.
Hebrews 11:31, “By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace.”
EXPOSITORY ARTICLE | Reagan McClenny | Lufkin, Texas
What was Jesus like as a child? I’ve often thought about this question and once posed a similar question to a group of 5th-grade boys in a Bible study. I asked them, “What would Jesus be like if He was here and your age?” While the exercise was helpful, their answers revealed an (understandable) naivety and lack of understanding of who Jesus really was on earth. Their answers were a caricature of cliches about Jesus more than how He would have really behaved. They suggested, “He would only study his Bible all the time,” and “He might skip school to pray.” “Would He play games?” I asked. “Oh no!” they replied, “He wouldn’t have time for that!” It was difficult for them to imagine Jesus living a physical life as a man on earth.
Would our answers of who Jesus was on earth be any closer to reality? Read More
APPLICATION ARTICLE | Reagan McClenny | Lufkin, Texas
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
CHURCH ARTICLE | Reagan McClenny | Lufkin, Texas
1 Thessalonians 5:14-15, “Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all. See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all.”
After urging the brethren of Thessalonica to “…aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands…” in 1 Thessalonians 4:11, he reminds the strong and faithful brethren to “be patient with all.” Read More
APPLICATION ARTICLE
Reagan McClenny | Lufkin, Texas
In John 8, Jesus has one of the most pointed discussions of his ministry concerning the “fatherhood” of His Jewish opponents. They claimed Abraham as their father, but Jesus replied, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would do the work of Abraham,” (John 8:39). Instead, Jesus points out their true father – the devil! “You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do,” (John 8:44).
In the broadest terms, a son can be identified because he looks like (and imitates) his father (John 5:19). Spiritually, the way we live reveals who our father really is. What does your life say about the identity of your father? Read More