A subtitle of this teaching could be Grace Unto Works. Much of the controversy about whether salvation is permanent misses the point that BIRTH and GROWTH are two totally different processes, with the former really being a one-time event. God does not get us “out of the soup” (“death unto life”) just so that we can spend the rest of …
Main Event: Logos Versus Muthos
In Acts 17, while hanging out at Athens waiting for his pals Silas and Timbo, the apostle Paul encountered a gaggle of Greek philosophers who spent most of their time “listening to the latest ideas,” not unlike many people today. The way in which Paul masterfully presented God’s Truth to those steeped in paganism and godlessness gives us some keys …
How’s Your Joie de Vivre?
Other than three years of early teen torture at Miss Gates Dancing School, the closest my wonderful parents came to child abuse was subjecting me to five years of French class in elementary school. Hence, I do recall the above French phrase, which literally means “the joy of life.” The dictionary defines it as, “a delight in being alive; keen, carefree enjoyment of living.” Given …
“Are We There Yet?”
Do you remember your youthful family car trip(s) when you voiced those words? I’m guessing that the more you matured, the less often you asked that—partly because you came to realize how far the trip was and how long it would take. But mostly because as you matured, you developed increasing patience. Thus, we see is that patience—the ability to …
Why Are Some People Cross About THE CROSS?
Consider this classic exhortation to us as followers of the Lord Jesus Christ: Hebrews 12:1-3Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the …
A Heaping Helping of Bible Cuisine
It seems that expository, verse-by-verse teachings of sections of the Word of God are too rare in Christendom today. But clearly, for maximum learning and assimilation of His Truth, they are indispensable. Given the God-breathed content, they are also enlightening, stimulating, and provocative. In one way, the Bible reads somewhat like a grocery list, as it speaks of milk, water, …
What Do You, King David, and Roger Maris Have in Common?
In 1927, Babe Ruth set the Major League Baseball record for most home runs in a season with 60 “dingers.” That mark stood until 1961, when another New York Yankee, Roger Maris, finally bested it with 61 circuit clouts. BUT, by that time the major league season had been extended from 154 games to 162, so Maris had eight more …
The Magnitude of Our Salvation
The glorious truth of what happened on the day of Pentecost, as recorded in Acts 2, is unintentionally given short shrift by too many Christian teachers and their pupils, mainly because they have not been taught what parts of Scripture are written TO WHOM. You may know that 1 Corinthians 10:32 sets forth the only THREE kinds of people who …
Finally… The Day of Pentecost!
Dear Son-Shiner, Greetings, blessings, and welcome to Summer—a good time to get out and share the Word of God with people. This year, the Christian calendar celebrates Pentecost on June 9, the seventh Sunday after Easter. The monumental significance of what happened that particular day, as described in Acts 2, cannot be overstated. The record begins with the words, “And …
“What Are You, NUTS?!”
The above quote was spoken by a cowardly French pea Israeli soldier in the classic Veggietales episode titled Dave And the Giant Pickle. He thought little French pea Dave was crazy to take on the giant briny cucumber. For his part, the courageous biblical David was simply doing “what came naturally” in his trusting relationship with his God. It was …
