Where there are no elders to provide leadership, congregations are often directed simply by having the men of the church to “oversee” the church. The problem is that in such meetings there are many men who have not reached spiritual maturity and often do not have the church foremost in their lives. As matters are discussed, these men can speak and keep…

It is refreshing to take a deeper look into a subject that you thought was exhausted only to find more information. There is a principle from the book of Jeremiah that echoes into the New Testament and sheds light on a very common passage. Jeremiah’s message from the Lord was one of doom. Judah had done evil, and it was time for…

There are some verses that are taken out of context more than others.  In fact, there are some verses that are so often quoted that people know the verse (and can almost quote it themselves), but neither the quoter nor the hearers realize that the verse is not being used in the context in which it was written.  First Corinthians 2:9 is…

For more than two years, congregations have had to deal with Covid and the restrictions on public gathers. It has been such a difficult time worldwide as it was increasingly difficult to maintain assembling to worship like the Lord wants. In far too many places, making decisions about how to deal with Covid created an emotional division as every member had strong…

At the end of his first letter to the church in Thessalonica Paul gives them this charge. “Examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good (1 Thess. 5:21). In that context, he gives them many things that we can examine and hold on to. Hold on to your leaders.  Honor and cherish them (1 Thess. 5:12-13a). Good leaders are a…

While some have suggested over the years that the Bible is hard to understand, perhaps we should see what the Bible has to say about that.  Luke wrote about the life of Christ to a man named Theophilus so that he “may know the certainty of those things in which [he was] instructed” (1:4).  Jesus Himself said, “You shall know the truth”…

The first psalm describes the character of those who are blessed by God. “He does not walk in the counsel of the ungodly.” The implication of these words is that if one does walk in the counsel of the ungodly, he is cursed. The psalmist has in mind walking in the counsel of ungodly men and the blessedness of those who walk…

Averell W. Harriman, a wealthy philanthropist, an integral part in the Post War international efforts, and Governor of NY also once served as a diplomat to France. When he was asked about the fluency of his French, he replied, “It is excellent, except for the verbs.” It is easy to see the comedy of this statement; however, it is no laughing matter…