Sermons and Biblical Studies

You may have guessed that I’ve been having some trouble with the site. You’d be right. I’ll get it back right soon. My “staff” has had to care for his sick family and is now sick himself. He hasn’t had time to run down all of the problems although he has resurrected the site from … Continue reading “Troubles – Bible study”

In Old Testament times, gatekeepers guarded the temple to prevent those who were unclean from entering (2 Chronicles 23:19) See also Porters and Doorkeeper (see another doorkeeper article). In the Christian dispensation [age], Paul calls our bodies Gods “temple” (Romans 8:9-11; 1 Corinthians 3:16-17; 2 Corinthians 6:16). Many evil forces are at work attempting to … Continue reading “The Job Of Gatekeeper – Bible study”

A querist asks, “During communion, when we pray regarding the bread, sometimes we say that this represents the broken body of our Lord. When the soldiers came to Christ as He hung upon the cross, they did not break any of His bones because He was already dead (John 19:32-33). Thus, what is the meaning … Continue reading “The Broken Body Of Christ — A Question – Bible study”

In his first letter to the Corinthian brethren, the apostle Paul calls them (and us) to live a watchful, committed, courageous, competent and charitable life: “Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. Let all that you do be done with love” (1 Corinthians 16:13-14 NKJV). 1) The word “watch” in the above … Continue reading “Summarizing The Christian Life – Bible study”

The origin of the word “scapegoat” (or azazel) comes from a ceremony performed with two goats on the Hebrew Day of Atonement (known today as Yom Kippur). The high priest would sacrifice one goat and symbolically place the sins of the people on the head of the other via the scapegoat before it was sent … Continue reading “Jesus As Scapegoat – Bible study”

In Hosea 7:8 – NKJV, the prophet describes Ephraim [Israel] as “a cake unturned.” In other words, they were just half-baked. On one side of the cake, they claimed they were faithful to God, while on the other side of the cake, they were blending in with the idolatrous nations around them, being guilty of … Continue reading “Are We Half-Baked Or Well-Done? – Bible study”

On September 12, 1962, I remember watching President John F. Kennedy as he spoke at Rice University in Houston, Texas. In that speech, he not only talked about the difficult challenges facing the nation, but shared his vision to place a man on the moon within a ten year period of time. He stated: “We … Continue reading “Embracing Life's Challenges – Bible study”

Travis Lumpkin, preacher for the Kempner church of Christ has asked me to speak on April 12.

Many Christians regard their financial giving as little more than a goodwill gesture to God for the service He has rendered to us. They think that as long as they have given their “weakly” [weekly] offering to God, the rest is theirs to handle as they please. Folks, the Christian life consists of more than … Continue reading “On First Giving Ourselves To The Lord – Bible study”

One of the ministries the Montana Street congregation is engaged in here in El Paso, involves the teaching of the gospel to homeless folks who reside in our local homeless shelters. There have been at least six of these precious souls who have responded in obedience to the hearing of the gospel. However, after only … Continue reading “Counting The Cost Of Discipleship – Bible study”