Luke, the beloved physician, wrote about Jesus healing people. He mentioned Jesus talking about healing the blind (Luke 4:16-18). Jesus did do this, but it was more than just physical blindness that He healed (Luke 18:35-43). He healed the blindness of ignorance, tradition, prejudice, superstition, and idolatry. Blindness is akin to darkness, which all through God’s word is contrasted to the Bible,…

There was no name on the church building, just a plaque which said, “The word of the Lord will be proclaimed here Sunday at 3:00 p.m.” We had just arrived in New Zealand (there were six of us, three couples) and had gone there to establish the church in Hamilton. We decided we would go to visit that group. As we walked…

It seems that companies everywhere are getting into offering a “Rewards Program” of some kind.  Airlines have been offering “Frequent Flyer Miles” for years, but now other businesses are jumping on the bandwagon.  After so many carwashes, get your next car wash for free.  After so many submarine sandwiches, get your next sub for free.  After so many Slurpees, get your next…

The book of Colossians is a great source of information for greater Christian living. In the last two chapters, Paul exhorts the Christians in Colossae to live the type of life that shows their faith in Jesus the Christ. In chapter three, verses one though eleven, he describes the basics of Christian living. In verses twelve through seventeen, of chapter three, he…

We are often not aware of the origin of many phrases and sayings we use. Do you remember hearing the saying, “A rose by any other name is still a rose”? It has many variations, but it appears that Shakespeare used it first in Romeo and Juliet. In the balcony scene, Juliet unknowingly said to Romeo that the fact his last name…

The Christian life can certainly be difficult, and maintaining a strong faith in our service to the Lord is often challenging.  For some children of God, it is more challenging than for others.  This is not intended as a derogatory characterization, but the reality is that there are many Christians around us who are “weak”—not physically, but spiritually. The Greek word that…

“Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, He was asking His disciples, ‘Who do people say that the Son of Man is?’” (Matt. 16:13). This is a very good question. So much depends on how we view who Jesus is. During His time on earth, there were a lot of opinions about Him. There are four that I would…

The disdain some have for doctrine in our day stands in marked contrast to the way the Holy Spirit exalts it. Instead of having little regard for doctrine, the early church proclaimed it. Do not lose sight of the charge brought against the apostles, “You have filled Jerusalem with this doctrine” (Acts 5:28). The Holy Spirit Commands Preaching Doctrine What does God…