Sermons and Biblical Studies

A querist asks, “As Christians, if we fail to tell people about the saving gospel of Christ, are we not in violation of James 4:17?” We all know people perhaps hundreds of people who are being held hostage by Satan, even as he awaits the opportunity to greet them as they die in an unrepentant … Continue reading “James 4:17 — A Question – Bible study”

In Ecclesiastes 7:29), the Ecclesiastes writer points out the fact that God created man “upright” or fashioned man in the moral image of God (Genesis 1:27). Thus man was not designed in God’s original plan to be sinful,but rather with a spiritual inclination to faithfulness (cf. Matthew 24:13; Revelation 2:10). The term “upright” gives us … Continue reading “Mankind And Apostasy – Bible study”

Before Paul was to speak before the Athenians, certain philosophers asked, ‘What does this babbler want to say?” (Acts 17:18). W.E. Vine defines the literal meaning of the word “babbler” as “seed collector,” used in Greek slang for a half-witted sort of person who picks up bits of information he does not understand. In other … Continue reading “Let Us Be “Fools For Christ's Sake” – Bible study”

Teaching is not the demonstration of a teachers learning, although obviously one cannot teach what he does not know. It is not the mere presentation of information, for one may present without communicating. Communication takes place only when there is a reception to the teaching being presented. Unfortunately, we cannot pour knowledge from one mind … Continue reading “What Is Effective Teaching? – Bible study”

Paul did some straight talking to the churches of Galatia (Gal. 1:2) when he said, I am afraid for you, lest I have bestowed upon you labor in vain (Gal. 4:11). He went on to say: Have I therefore become your enemy because I tell you the truth? (Gal. 4:16). Paul knew how people generally … Continue reading ““Have I Therefore Become Your Enemy?” – Bible study”

Through the news media, we hear of negligent parents starving their children to death. We are sickened to hear of such inexcusable conduct, not to mention its deplorable consequences. Any parent who truly loves their children would never dream of depriving them life-sustaining food. However, even the most concerned parents sometimes lose sight of what … Continue reading “Let's Not Starve Our Children! – Bible study”

To some in the religious world, repentance is a matter of great controversy. Some believe that repentance is simply a mental disposition of sorrow, not conveying any idea of restitution (cf. Matthew 27:1-5). However, in Nehemiah 5:9-11, we have a biblical example of the true nature of repentance. In the days following the Babylonian captivity, … Continue reading “Restoration Is A Part Of Repentance – Bible study”

Whats on our to-do list today? Cleaning out an overstuffed closet? Making a financial budget to determine what areas we are over spending? Paying our monthly bills? We all have things we need to get done today, whether weve written them down or not. While a to-do list is valuable, another type of list is … Continue reading “What's On Our Spiritual “To Be” List Today? – Bible study”

It is not surprising that the one true God would be as a stranger to pagan nations in times past. For example, to the Athenians, the apostle Paul was one who seemed to be a “setter forth of strange gods” (Acts 17:18-KJV). To them, his proclamation of God’s word was as a strange thing to … Continue reading “Where God Is A Stranger – Bible study”

Jesus once said, “But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason except sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery….” (Matthew 5:32). Here it is assumed that the put away woman will enter an unlawful sexual relationship and thus bear her own guilt for the outcome. But the man who puts … Continue reading “Christians Must Not Cause Others To Sin – Bible study”