Lots of different ideas exist today as to what faith in Jesus means.  Could it possibly mean, as some assert, to merely put mental assent to the deity of Jesus?  Mental assent is simply agreeing intellectually in your head that the evidence presented is historically and factually accurate.  Mental assent can lead to faith but it certainly is not faith.  Faith is…

The average cost of raising a child today, from birth to age 17, is estimated to be around $250,000.  The average cost of an abortion is $400-$500.  How much is a life worth to you? While it’s hard to estimate, the average cost of long-term health care for one in advanced age can be $50,000 annually or more.  The average cost of…

The chief priests and Pharisees were constantly seeking to oppose and thwart the efforts of Jesus.  In Matthew 21:23, they came and “confronted Him as He was teaching,” to question Him about His authority.  Yet, they were not honest or courageous enough themselves to answer the simple question that Jesus asked in response.  To deal with them, Jesus told two parables (The…

There are at this time an estimated 6.89 billion people on this planet.  You are only one of them.  It is estimated that between 15-20 billion people have ever lived on this planet.  You are only one of them.  The earth itself is about 1,097,509,500,000,000,000,000 cubic meters.  The average human, that’s you, is only one of those cubic meters. Makes you feel…

You know how an actor has his legal name (given by his parents), his public name (sometimes a different name given by his agent or publicist), and then his screen name (given by whatever film he is working on at the time)?  Did you know that God also assigns names? On January 16, 2011, Ricky Dene Gervais hosted the 2011 Golden Globe…

The event in the life of Jesus recorded in the first four verses of Luke 21 is one of great solace, encouragement and wonder.  Jesus was sitting “opposite the treasury” and watching as “people put money into the treasury” (Mark 12:41).  Luke 21:2 reveals, “He saw also a certain poor widow putting in two mites.” I want you to think about each…

Oh, boy!  I’m confident with a room full of parents we could have a passionate discussion about who is the harder gender to raise.  And, you know what?  Every parent would be right!  There is not an “easy” gender to raise, for there is nothing inherently “easy” in raising children.  It is a parent’s sole responsibility (given by God) to take that…

Is it possible that you could love your spouse more than you do?  What about your children?  Is it possible that you could love your Christian brethren more than you do?  Even the ones who are not so lovable?  Is it possible that you could love the elders, deacons, teachers, workers, preachers, etc. at your local congregation more than you do?  What…