Sermons and Biblical Studies

Veracity I have come to the conviction that no man knows enough to attack the veracity of the O. T. Every time when anyone has been able to get together enough documentary ‘proofs’ to undertake an investigation, the biblical facts in the original text have victoriously met the test. Prof. Robert Dick Wilson of Princeton, … Continue reading “Bible (truth of)”

Parables It is easy to identify parables in the Gospels by looking for these five characteristics: 1. It is a story with a plot. 2. The story is not historical. 3. The story is true-to-life in the author’s day. 4. The story is given to teach a truth, not to entertain. 5. It is a … Continue reading “Bible (study of)”

Pulpit Dramatics One morning in the 1620s, in a little village church, a preacher named John Rogers was preaching on the subject of the Bible in the Christian’s life. He allowed himself some pulpit dramatics. First, he acted the part of God telling the congregation: “Well, I have trusted you so long with my Bible; … Continue reading “Bible (reverence for)”

The Freshman When their son left for his freshman year at Duke University, his parents gave him a Bible, assuring him it would be a great help. Later, as he began sending them letters asking for money, they would write back telling him to read his Bible, citing chapter and verse. He would reply that … Continue reading “Bible (reading for profit)”

George Mueller Is reading the Bible a necessary part of your day or does it have a low priority in your life? George Mueller, after having read the Bible through one hundred times with increasing delight, made this statement: “I look upon it as a lost day when I have not had a good time … Continue reading “Bible (reading)”

Power to Change Lives When evangelist John Wesley (1703–1791) was returning home from a service one night, he was robbed. The thief, however, found his victim to have only a little money and some Christian literature. As the bandit was leaving, Wesley called out, “Stop! I have something more to give you.” The surprised robber … Continue reading “Bible (power of)”

Only One Bible Noted Bible teacher E. Schuyler English told of Michael Billester, a Bible distributor who visited a small hamlet in Poland shortly before World War II. Billester gave a Bible to a villager, who was converted by reading it. The new believer then passed the Book on to others. The cycle of conversions … Continue reading “Bible (memorization of)”

Read with Tongue A man in Kansas City was severely injured in an explosion. Evangelist Robert L. Sumner tells about him in his book The Wonders of the Word of God. The victim’s face was badly disfigured, and he lost his eyesight as well as both hands. He was just a new Christian, and one … Continue reading “Bible (love of)”

A Parable “Sam, what part of the Bible do you like best?” “Well, sir, I like the New Testament best, Sir.” “What book in the New Testament?” “What book sir? What book? I think it’s the book of parables, Sir.” “Would you kindly relate one of those parables to this council?” Poor Sam was up … Continue reading “Bible (knowledge of)”

Interpretation We cannot arrive at a true understanding of God’s Word by detaching texts from their contexts to find personal meaning in them and be feeding them into the world of our private preoccupations and letting that world impose new senses on old phrases. A theological student whom later I knew as a senior friend … Continue reading “Bible (interpretation)”