Jesus promised that the gates of Hades would not prevail against the church that He would build. How would Jesus build His church? He would do so by going to the cross and dying for our sins. While the death of Christ was necessary for the salvation of our souls, it was not enough. In […]
What is “the faith?” The word faith is used in different ways in the New Testament. Sometimes it is used subjectively, referring to one’s personal faith. This kind of faith is of the utmost im-portance, seeing that it is necessary for salvation. Jesus said, “I told you that you would die in your sins, for […]
Being willing to compromise is sometimes good. Many marriages have been ruined because one or both spouses involved have not been willing to compromise in the relationship. It is a childish attitude that says, “I have to have everything my way.” All healthy relationships include a willing-ness to compromise once in a while. Having said […]
The gospel has the power to change lives, but it does not do so apart from human effort. The gospel enlightens us, but we have to apply it to our lives. The salvation of our souls is, at least in part, determined by our willingness to live by the gospel. Hearing the Word is not […]
This week, before winding down for the night, we have considered the importance of seeking first the kingdom of God. While there are many applications that can and should be made from our Lord’s instructions, we have applied it to the local church. Being the best member of your local church that you can be […]
If we want to enjoy the providential care of God, we must seek His kingdom first (Matthew 6:33). The Greek word for kingdom is used in different ways, both in classical Greek and in the New Testament. Sometimes the word refers to the rule and reign of God. At other times, it refers to the […]
Christianity involves a lifetime of activity. In the local church, it involves working, laboring, and volunteering to do what needs to be done in the church. Members who are active, not just using their God-given talents, as we emphasized in our last blog, but participating in specific work in the local church, are of great […]
One aspect of seeking first the kingdom of God is being the best member we can be in the local church of which we are members. This means allowing God to use us to help further the cause of Christ in our various locations. One way to do this is by figuring out what our […]
In Ephesians 4:5 Paul said that there is “one baptism.” So then, from all the confusion within the religious world, we must determine what the “one baptism” is. Is it Holy Spirit baptism? Is it infant Baptism? Is it John’s Baptism? How are we to know what baptism Paul was referring to in Ephesians 4:5? […]
In Matthew 6:33, our Lord instructs us to seek the kingdom of God first in our lives. In the New Testament the word is often, but not exclusively, used in reference to the church. Even in proph-ecy, such was the case (Daniel 2:44). This week I want us to think about the importance of seeking […]