Sermons and Biblical Studies

If the devil cannot succeed in destroying the conscience he will settle for making it sick. I know Christians who live in a state of constant distress, fearing that they may displease God. Their world of permitted acts becomes narrower year by year till at last they fear to engage in the common pursuits of … Continue reading “LEGALISM;
CONSCIENCE”

A. B. Simpson had become a world-missionary, whatever men may think of it, and he had come through in the only way a man of his temperament could. For better or for worse that was the way he moved. He would first get an idea, a concept, then must come a heart experience to set … Continue reading “LEADERS:
VISIONARIES; A. B. SIMPSON”

That so-called Bible religion in our times is suffering rapid decline is so evident as to need no proof, but just what has brought about this decline is not so easy to discover. I can only say that I have observed one significant lack among evangelical Christians which might turn out to be the real … Continue reading “LEADERS:
SPIRITUAL NEED; SPIRITUAL DISCERNMENT; PASTORS: PROPHETIC MINISTRY”

The history of Israel and Judah points up a truth taught clearly enough by all history, viz., that the masses are or soon will be what their leaders are. The kings set the moral pace for the people.… Whatever sort of man the king turned out to be the people were soon following his leadership. … Continue reading “LEADERS:
SPIRITUAL NEED; PASTORAL MINISTRY: SPIRITUAL IMPACT”

I have reason to suspect that many people are trying to give leadership in Christian churches today without ever having yielded to the wise and effective leading of the Holy Spirit. He truly is the Spirit of wisdom, understanding and counsel. He alone can bring the gracious presence of the living God into our lives … Continue reading “LEADERS:
SPIRITUAL NEED; HOLY SPIRIT: NEED FOR; CHURCH: HOLY SPIRIT’S WORK; HUMAN WISDOM”

Prayer is not a work that can be allocated to one or another group in the church. It is everybody’s responsibility; it is everybody’s privilege. Prayer is the respiratory function of the church; without it we suffocate and die at last, like a living body deprived of the breath of life. Prayer knows no sex, … Continue reading “LEADERS:
SPIRITUAL NEED; CHURCH: LEADERSHIP; PRAYER: NECESSITY OF”

Conformity to the Word of God is always right, but obedience to religious leaders is good only if those leaders prove themselves worthy to lead. Leadership in the church of Christ is a spiritual thing and should be so understood by everyone. It takes more than a ballot to make a leader.… If the church … Continue reading “LEADERS:
SPIRITUAL NEED; CHURCH: LEADERSHIP”

I think we make two mistakes in our attitude toward our Christian leaders, one in not being sufficiently grateful to them and the other in following them too slavishly.… In a very real sense we thank God when we thank His people. Gratitude felt and expressed becomes a healing, life-building force in the soul. Something … Continue reading “LEADERS:
ATTITUDE TOWARD”

The “layman” need never think of his humbler task as being inferior to that of his minister. Let every man abide in the calling wherein he is called and his work will be as sacred as the work of the ministry. It is not what a man does that determines whether his work is sacred … Continue reading “LAYMAN;
SERVICE: MOTIVES FOR”

The church at Laodicea has stood for nineteen hundred years as a serious warning to the whole church of Christ to be most watchful when no enemy is in sight and to remain poor in spirit when earthly wealth increases, yet we appear to have learned nothing from her. We expound the seven letters to … Continue reading “LAODICEA;
BACKSLIDING”