Sermons and Biblical Studies

One qualification everyone expects a preacher to have is the ability to discourse fluently on almost any religious or moral subject. Yet such ability is at best a doubtful asset and unless brought to Christ for cleansing may easily turn out to be the greatest enemy the preacher faces here below. The man who finds … Continue reading “PASTORAL
MINISTRY: DEPENDENCE ON GOD; ELOQUENCE”

We can learn important lessons by considering God’s disciplines in dealing with Elijah. As Elijah fled to the wilderness following his first confrontation with King Ahab, God said to him, “Elijah, go to the brook Cherith, and I will feed you there.” God sent big, black buzzards—ravens, scavenger birds—each morning and evening with Elijah’s meals. … Continue reading “PASTORAL
MINISTRY: DEPENDENCE ON GOD; CHURCH: FINANCES”

Circumstances being what they are the Christian minister is the one most tempted to carry on competitive religious activity. Even where his self-respect and good taste will not allow him to engage in an obvious race for numbers or publicity or fame he may yet harbor the spirit of envy within his heart and so … Continue reading “PASTORAL
MINISTRY: COMPETITION; HUMILITY; PRIDE: PASTORAL; COMPETITION”

What a great responsibility God has laid upon us preachers of His gospel and teachers of His Word. In that future day when God’s wrath is poured out, how are we going to answer? How am I going to answer? I fear there is much we are doing in the name of the Christian church … Continue reading “PASTORAL
MINISTRY: CHALLENGE; PREACHING: AWESOME TASK”

That there is something gravely wrong with evangelical Christianity today is not likely to be denied by any serious-minded person acquainted with the facts. Just what is wrong is not so easy to determine.… One mark of the low state of affairs among us is religious boredom. Whether this is a thing in itself or … Continue reading “PASTORAL
MINISTRY: CHALLENGE; CHURCH: BOREDOM; BOREDOM: RELIGIOUS”

Most readers will remember (some with just a trace of nostalgia) his or her early struggles to learn the difference between the active and the passive voice in English grammar, and how it finally dawned that in the active voice, the subject performs an act; in the passive voice, the subject is acted upon. A … Continue reading “PASSIVE
RELIGION; CHURCH: APATHY”

The highest expression of the will of God in this age is the church which He purchased with His own blood. To be scripturally valid any religious activity must be part of the church. Let it be clearly stated that there can be no service acceptable to God in this age that does not center … Continue reading “PARA-CHURCH
MINISTRIES”

I am and have been for years much distressed about the tendency to over-organize the Christian community, and I have for that reason had it charged against me that I do not believe in organization. The truth is quite otherwise. The man who would oppose organization in the church must needs be ignorant of the … Continue reading “ORGANIZATION;
CHURCH: ORGANIZATION”

Bible exposition without moral application raises no opposition. It is only when the hearer is made to understand that truth is in conflict with his heart that resistance sets in. As long as people can hear orthodox truth divorced from life they will attend and support churches and institutions without objection. The truth is a … Continue reading “OPPOSITION;
CHURCH: RELIGIOUS GAME; TRUTH: NECESSITY OF RESPONSE”

I do not mind telling you that I have always found Jesus Christ beckoning to me throughout the Scriptures. Do not be disturbed by those who say that Old Testament portions cannot be claimed by the Christian church. God has given us the Bible as a unit, and Jesus referred in His teachings to many … Continue reading “OLD
TESTAMENT; BIBLE: UNITY OF”