In thousands of Christian writings and sermons, the church of the first century has been used as a paradigm for our contemporary church, and we are correct in doing so. The early church is in many ways the criterion and fundamental principle for what we believe and do. Characteristics The early church received God’s special […]
Camels have an Achilles’ heel. But their vulnerability is hidden by their legendary resilience. These ships of the desert, known for going weeks without water, have been crossing dune seas since before the time of Abraham. They can carry heavy loads and travel thousands of miles across burning sands with seemingly endless endurance. But they […]
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:34, 35). Although familiar with Jesus’ command, I balked when it applied to a sister in Christ. Elaine and I […]
I was a young teenager when I first heard the saying “It is a choice, not a child.” Young and rather innocent, I had no clue what abortion is. Then there was this ethereal news item about a court case called Roe v. Wade, which said abortion was not only legal in the United States […]
My wife and I recently attended a wedding on the bank of a lake overshadowed by steep mountain slopes. The sky, water, and trees provided a gorgeous backdrop. God’s handiwork was the primary decoration, and He did a fabulous job! As we waited to sign the guest book, we were directed to another line where […]
“For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7). The bright glare of the church overhead lights prompted my youth missions’ teammate, Lauren, to slip on her sunglasses once we found our seats before the morning service began. As the worship […]
Meekness and warhorse seem to be such contradictory terms. Warhorses are fearless, ready to charge into battle, while meekness is often equated with milquetoast, doormats, and weakness. In fact, Merriam-Webster defines meek as “deficient in spirit and courage, not violent or strong.” It lists such synonyms as lowly, modest, unassuming, and unpretentious. And yet, these […]
The story of the prodigal son is one of the most powerful and endearing of the Lord’s parables. The wayward prodigal, patient father, and disgruntled older son are all characters who have resonated with readers down through the ages. Interestingly, this parable has something of a parallel version in the Old Testament book of Zephaniah, […]
Then the Lord spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the tent of meeting (Numbers 1:1, NASB). The book labeled Numbers in our Bible has a couple different names in Hebrew. The most common is bamidbar, which means “in the wilderness.” This is a much more befitting title because the wilderness wanderings of the […]
Start by holding up both hands. The right hand represents God, and the left hand represents people. Repeat the words in bold aloud as you do the motions. “God loves.” (Both hands are clasped together.) “We sinned.” (Left hand moves to the left.) “Jesus died.” (Right hand moves to the right. Now both hands are […]
