A reader posed the question, asking “how to build a God-fearing and happy family.” A God-fearing family begins with indoctrination—a sort of spiritual inoculation—with God’s Word. Deuteronomy 6:5-9 is an excellent method of instilling God’s Word in one’s family. Of course, Deuteronomy 6 pertains to Judaism, whereas we who live today live under Christianity. Nevertheless, the same procedure for implanting the Word of God into one’s family members will be effective and useful now, too. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. (Deuteronomy 6:5-9 NKJV) The process begins with ensuring that one loves God ultimately, completely and totally (vss. 5-6). Unless parents are fully committed to putting God first in their lives, and unless parents are intimately familiar with God’s Word, they will not be able to impart God’s Word effectively to their children. Then, verse 7 begins by stating that with routine and regularity parents must acquaint their children with God’s Word. Haphazardly and infrequently teaching …

Someone asked about “666 in Book of Revelation.” People have been curious about those numbers for a long time (Revelation 13:18). The Book of Revelation is a highly figurative book that was more easily understood by the original recipients than by us who live nearly 2,000 years since it was penned. Consequently, the volume itself and this verse with the mysterious reference to 666 have been widely and variously interpreted. Numerous historical persons throughout the centuries have been suspected of being the 666 in the Book of Revelation. Opinions abound, but definitively identifying who was represented by “666” remains elusive. The theme of the Book of Revelation is more easily discerned than the precise meaning or application of some of the details in the epistle.

The sum of your word is truth, and every one of your righteous rules endures forever. Princes persecute me without cause, but my heart stands in awe of your words. I rejoice at your word like one who finds great spoil. I hate and abhor falsehood, but I love your law. Seven times a day I praise you for your righteous rules. Great peace have those who love your law; nothing can make them stumble. I hope for your salvation, O Lord, and I do your commandments. My soul keeps your testimonies; I love them exceedingly. I keep your precepts and testimonies, for all my ways are before you. Let my cry come before you, O Lord; give me understanding according to your word! Let my plea come before you; deliver me according to your word. My lips will pour forth praise, for you teach me your statutes. My tongue will sing of your word, for all your commandments are right. Let your hand be ready to help me, for I have chosen your precepts. I long for your salvation, O Lord, and your law is my delight. Let my soul live and praise you, and let your rules help me. I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek your servant, for I do not forget your commandments. (Psalms 119:160-176) During a mid-week Bible study, I was fascinated by the reference to Psalms 119:160. As is my custom, I usually read around the quoted text seeking context, and I think …

Three cheers for quiet Christians. We all know them. They don’t say too much. They go about their jobs, business and Christian responsibilities in a quiet manner. They stay out of trouble. They can be counted on when others need help. They don’t like to be in the limelight. They are faithful to their God and perform good works within the framework of their makeup. They are just good, every day folks that have a quiet and calming disposition. Psalm 131:2 says, “Surely I have behaved and quieted myself, as a child that is weaned of his mother: my soul is even as a weaned child.” The word “quieted” means to forbear, hold peace, rest, be silent, keep or put to silence, be or stand still, tarry or wait. Unfortunately, because some Christians have a silent, hold their peace temperament, they sometimes are overlooked and neglected. Further, because of their quiet demeanor, they have a tendency to feel that they are not an important part of the inner church family circle. Spiritually, they may feel overlooked as they observe the more outgoing or seemly more significant Christians. This, sadly, is true with many in some congregations of the Lord’s church! May we never ignore or neglect these quiet Christians! Acts 6:1 reads, “And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.” According to Acts 6:1, we see that …

When we look at the life of Jesus, we see the Son of God, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords in several different stages of life: as a newborn baby, as a young boy and as a man beginning His ministry. Every aspect of His life pointed to the fact that Jesus was here for a purpose. His purpose was to bring salvation to the world. His purpose was to bring about the kingdom, the church. However, many thought His kingdom would be of this earth. They thought of an earthly throne. It is conceivable that many thought of great riches, glory and powerful armies. Yet, that was not the kind of King Jesus was to be. Yes, He was God in the flesh. He had all power at His disposal, but Jesus was to be a different kind of King than the world had ever known. He would not take glory for Himself. Humbly, He submitted to the will of the Father, and humbly, He came to serve. One of the many great lessons Jesus taught while He was here on the earth was about humble service. On one occasion, while Jesus was delivering that great Sermon on the Mount, Jesus spoke about a few different ways we can humbly serve God. In Matthew 6:1, Jesus first gave a clear warning to not practice righteousness to be seen by men. He then went on to talk about three different topics: charitable deeds, praying and fasting. In Matthew …

Ecclesiastes 9:10 (NKJV) reads, “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going.” Colossians 3:22-24 says, “Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God. And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.” I have been sick since Monday of this week. Sparing all the details, I have been home most of the week. Sometimes illness overtakes you, and you have no choice but to give in and try to get better. However, way too often, I am afraid, some tend to give in to the slightest problems—a headache, being tired, various other ailments—and use them as an excuse not to meet one’s obligations. Sometimes, it is necessary to push ourselves to do what we do not necessarily feel like doing. We cannot give in to every little problem and be successful in life. We Need to Push Ourselves toDo Everything with All Our Might We should work hard to meet our obligations and to be the very best we can be at what we do. I know some people who are always pushing themselves to do the best they can. Quite often, they get out of bed not feeling …

While in Samaria, Jesus told His disciples, “Do you not say, ‘There are still four months and then comes the harvest?’ Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest!” (John 4:35). As in agriculture, so also in evangelism, fields “white for harvest” do not just happen. Preparation must first be made. Jesus had prepared these people by teaching the Samaritan woman, who in turn went and told her village about Jesus (John 4:4-30). The local church must constantly be looking for souls who can be brought to Christ. Let us note three principles concerning fields “white for harvest” as it relates to evangelism and how laborers can reap those souls for Christ. Finding Prospects There are two ways prospects can be found. They either come to us or we go to them. First, consider how contacts come to us. When Jesus left Judea for Galilee, “He needed to go through Samaria” (John 4:4). This need was not so much geographical as it was a moral need for the people of Samaria to come in contact with the Gospel. While Jesus was resting at the well, the Samaritan woman came to Him (John 4:5-6). She did not come to the well because of Him. She simply came to draw water. However, Jesus took advantage of the situation and initiated a conversation that eventually led to a discussion of spiritual truth. Lesson One: Let us initiate a conversation that leads …

On two different occasions, at His baptism and at the Transfiguration, God stated audibly that Jesus was His beloved Son. At the Transfiguration He added, “Hear Him,” indicating that Jesus, not Moses and the Law, and not Elijah and the prophets, but Jesus was now the one to whom man must listen. The New Covenant was soon to be installed. If Jesus was on earth today in the flesh, and said certain things, would you believe Him? Think carefully before you answer. Would you really listen to Him if He came to your hometown and spoke to all of us as we might gather at the lake? Jesus warned His disciples about wearing religious titles in His statement, “Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven” (Matthew 23:9). Yet many today love to be addressed as “Reverend,” “Pastor” or “Father,” sometimes even referring to themselves by these titles. Jesus said, “Preach the gospel… he who believes and is baptized shall be saved.” Yet, many today boldly proclaim that baptism is not essential to salvation, encouraging their hearers to do something that they call “the sinner’s prayer,” a thing for which they can find absolutely no biblical authority. Jesus said, “I will build my church.” His church is not good enough for many today, and so they establish Methodist, Baptist, Catholic, Mormon and a host of other “churches.” Are you in His church, or are you in a manmade church? Are you really …

So many people this time of year stop to reflect on the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It is a fact that Jesus was born, and His birth was a necessary component of the mission and method of our Savior to save mankind from sins. However, nowhere in the Bible does it tell us the date of the birth of Christ or that we should celebrate His birth. Yet, His birth was an essential part of God’s plan to save people (Galatians 4:4-5). With so many thinking about the birth of Christ this time of year, it is a great opportunity to separate fact from fiction and truth from tradition—such as found in the Christmas carol “Silent Night.” This song is often sung, and many believe what it has to say about the night of Jesus’ birth. Upon reading the biblical account of Jesus’ birth in Luke 2:1-20, one can see it was anything but a “Silent Night.” Reading Luke 2:1, 3, one sees that the City of Bethlehem would have been bustling with people. They would have been responding to Caesar Augustus’ decree to have everyone included in the census. Luke 2:3 states, “And all went to be registered, each to his own town.” The roads would have been full of people, and relatives would have been searching for lodging: homes, inns or stables—any place to rest from tiring travels. There would have been noise, stress and anxiety. Relatives would have been knocking on doors and …

The late country singer George Jones recorded the song, “Choices,” which sounds like a confession regarding the bad choices he made in his life, with which he was “living and dying.” The Lord God made man to be a free moral agent; that is, he possesses the ability to make choices in life, either good or bad. That has been true since the time Adam and Eve were in the Garden of Eden. Before his death, Moses, the great leader of the children of Israel, informed the people of the following. “And when the LORD your God brings you into the land that you are entering to take possession of it, you shall set the blessing on Mount Gerizim and the curse on Mount Ebal” (Deuteronomy 11:29). God did lead them to the mountains: Mount Gerizim was the mountain of ‘blessing’ and Mount Ebal was the mountain of ‘curse.’ Moses commanded six leaders from six tribes to stand on Mount Gerizim to pronounce the blessings that would come upon the people if they obeyed the commandments of God. He also commanded six leaders from six tribes to stand on Mount Ebal to pronounce the curses that would come upon the people if they disobeyed the commandments of God (Deuteronomy 27:11-28:68). In Deuteronomy 30:15, 19, Moses said, “See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil.” “I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, …

July 29, 2017 marks 40 years ago that I was immersed into Christ by my dad at the church of Christ in New Philadelphia, Ohio. My dad was the first to congratulate me, then Ralph Miller and then other brothers and sisters in Christ who assembled that Friday afternoon. The church on Commercial Avenue remains dear to my heart even though we had lived in several places prior, and there would be several places to follow. Hopefully without sounding pretentious, I would like to share some thoughts I have been reflecting upon. The Plan of SalvationIs Easy to Understand Some have made the plan of salvation a confusing matter to some by their misplaced emphasis on grace (alone) or faith (alone), but the plan of salvation is not difficult to understand if one reads the New Testament. Being a preacher’s son, I knew the plan of salvation from a very young age. I could draw the “steps,” give you “book-chapter-verse” for each one and quote each passage from the KJV. Before I became a Christian, I could name all the books of the Bible and more through the fortification of my mother’s instruction, too. It seems that some have trouble knowing what to do because they have had their minds cluttered with various teachings and concepts of men. Yet, an honest reading of the Book of Acts will remove that clutter! Never be ashamed of taking time to explain to others the steps they need to take to have eternal …

Christ revealed the need for setting proper priorities in Matthew 6:33. Putting first things last and last things first is far too easy and frequent. Therefore, consider four particulars from the words of Christ that will aid in putting first things first. Obligation: “seek.” We must understand that Jesus issued a command—not an option. If we desire a heavenly home, we must follow this absolute imperative. Seeking requires a diligent effort on our part. Notice Hebrews 11:6, which reads, “but without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” Objects: “the kingdom of God and his righteousness.” The top priorities in a Christian’s life are the “kingdom” or the church (Matthew 16:18-19) and “his righteousness.” These are revealed in the Gospel of Jesus Christ (Romans 1:16-17). Order: “first.” The emphasis is that the church which belongs to Christ must never take a back seat. In all we do, we must seek to put these things first in our hearts, minds, souls and strength! The concept of “seeking first” for the things of God is a predominant biblical concept that touches one’s motivation and priorities including how one spends his or her leisure time, the goals one sets in life and whether a person experiences spiritual growth. Outcome: “all these things shall be added unto you.” This statement shows the blessings that will result if one’s priorities are right. The result for obediently seeking the …

Perhaps the above caption and quote will be echoed for many years through the halls of institutions dedicated to preserving God-given freedoms that each of us no doubt have come to cherish as citizens in a free society. In years past, I have listened with rapt attention to the speech that immortalized the above words. As many others, I have strong feelings about such issues, and my passions are certainly stirred in the face of historical abuse of any of our people in our nation and society. As the leader of the civil rights movement during the decade of the 60’s formulated and shared his dream about pertinent issues of the day related to the restoration of a free and balanced society, each of us today, as members of the New Testament church, should formulate and share our dream about the future prosperity of the Lord’s church in our generation. The time has come, not only here in our local congregation, but in congregations across the land, to face the reality of one’s needs and challenges, and to address them with vigor, while we yet have the time, opportunity, energy and ability to do so. May it be that elderships across the land throughout our beloved brotherhood will not only listen with renewed interest to the voice of the people they serve, but will also covet the wisdom to discern between the array of proposals that may be set before them. May our esteemed leaders in each of our congregations …

A “Bible class” in which each participant shares “what this verse means to me” can become an exercise in sharing ignorance rather than a learning experience. Someone must pull together and cite the Bible, correctly understood and applied. Private discussions of ethical and religious differences are worthless until someone points to a biblical principle or passage that speaks to the question at issue. The principle is well stated by Balaam: “If Balak should give me his house full of silver and gold, I would not be able to go beyond the word of the Lord, to do either good or bad of my own will. What the Lord speaks, that will I speak” (Numbers 24:13). However, though Balaam said that just right, he did not want to do it right. He coveted Balak’s riches. He knew that pronouncing a curse the Lord Himself had not pronounced would do him no good, but he kept rationalizing, following Balak along, until he figured out a way to entice Israel to sin and thus bring a curse on themselves. A religious discussion is not settled until (1) the Bible is correctly cited and (2) the parties to the discussion accept and do what God says.

In Israel’s pre-kingdom days of the Judges, “everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (Judges 17:6; 21:25). This meant religion was practiced by the random whims of the powerful (17-18), violent chaos emanated from the lusts of men (19-21) and oppression from former enemies was employed as a recurring punishment by God (2:11-22; 1-16). In mercy, when the people would cry out for help, God would send a deliverer (a judge). In one incident, the Midianites, Amalekites and the people of the East (6:3; 7:12) were the collective oppressor enabled by Heaven (6-8). The nature of this oppression was not a one-time, destructive, all-in battle, but a recurring, demoralizing annual event. When the children of Israel would sow their crops, the enemy would bring in their overwhelming forces, “as numerous as locusts; and their camels… without number, as the sand by the seashore in multitude” (7:12; cf. 6:5) to stamp out the crops, take the livestock and “leave no sustenance for Israel” (6:4). Can you sense the yearly demoralization? After one year, “Well, let’s survive the winter and try again.” The same after two. Then, three. Four. Five… It became so bad that they stopped rebuilding and looked for a stronger refuge. “Because of the Midianites, the children of Israel made for themselves the dens, the caves, and the strongholds which are in the mountains” (6:2). The children of Israel cried out (6:7). God first sent a prophet to remind them that this consequence was the fault of …

“So I congratulated the dead who are already dead more than the living who are still living” (Ecclesiastes 4:2). This is certainly one of the more unique verses in the entire Bible. Normally in the Old Testament, life is exalted and desired. Even in other places in Ecclesiastes Solomon places a premium on life (9:4, 9). So why was Solomon here congratulating the dead? Because the dead don’t have to see the worldwide abuse of power. Our world is full of evil men. Those evil men continually abuse power to the hurt of others. If a person has a single sensitive bone in his body, it troubles him to see the abuse of power. Poor people shouldn’t be taken advantage of because they are poor. Sick people, widows, orphans and any person disadvantaged in some way shouldn’t be oppressed. Yet, we see it happening every day on every continent of the world. The dead are better off because they don’t have to see this, Solomon said. So, what is the solution? Solomon suggested that those with power recognize that (a) there is One more powerful than them, (b) they will give an account in Judgment for their deeds. Because the dead don’t have to see the helplessness of the oppressed. Solomon noted, “Behold I saw the tears of the oppressed and that they had no one to comfort them…” (4:1). It is tragic enough that the world has oppressors. It is even more tragic that there are those who will stand by …

In Acts 2:42, we read, “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread and in prayers.” For all those who are interested in the idea of having a life or a church patterned after what Christ ordained, a continued emphasis on the four aspects of Christianity mentioned here should be valuable. In this article, we will have space for only the first one. First, we need to consider the apostles’ doctrine. What was it? How do we discover it? What difference does it make? Is it good for us to continue steadfastly in it? I never thought I would live long enough to hear those who claim membership in the Lord’s church to teach that doctrine is not important. Paul said to Timothy, “Take heed unto thyself and unto the doctrine; continue in them, for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee” (1 Timothy 4:5). If Paul’s language to Timothy does not teach that doctrine is important, what does it teach? In taking heed to the apostles’ doctrine, we need to make some significant distinctions. First, we need to make distinctions between the Old and the New testaments. It is amazing that there are still those connected with the Restoration Movement who try to prove their practices (like those of using mechanical instruments of music in worship) by the Old Testament. I received a letter recently from a preacher who said something like this, “If God approved of …

In discussing God’s Word with folks, I’ve sometimes had them say that they don’t read it much because it’s too hard to understand. I’ve never accepted that as a legitimate excuse because God didn’t give His Word to men as the means by which they can know how to avoid Hell and get to Heaven, and then make it too difficult for them to understand. If that was so, what good would it do for those who say it is too difficult? That’s not God’s will for men because He affirms that He would have “all men come to a knowledge of the truth and be saved” (1 Timothy 2:4). The definition of knowledge is “full discernment.” Discernment means comprehension or understanding. If God’s Word is too difficult to understand, men would not have a chance of full discernment. The Inspired Word speaks of those who don’t come to a knowledge of God’s Word by saying they are “ever learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth” (2 Timothy 3:7). In the previous verses in front of this Scripture, God said these people are “lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, without self-control, fierce, despisers of good, traitors, heady, high minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying the power of God, ever learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.” What …

All of us realize how hard it can be to make changes in one’s life. New Year’s resolutions are easy enough to make, but how about seeing them through beyond a few days, about really integrating these positive changes into one’s lifestyle permanently? It’s just easy to get into a routine, and without thinking, it becomes part of who we are. Exchanging a bad habit for a good one is always beneficial, but actually doing such is not always as easy to do as desiring it. Spiritually, we understand the struggle that can be involved with trying to overcome sin in our lives, replacing it with righteousness and what benefits for eternity. We can relate to the words of Paul, “For I do not understand what I am doing, because I do not practice what I want to do, but I do what I hate… For I do not do the good that I want to do, but I practice the evil that I do not want to do” (Romans 7:15, 19 HCSB). No one would doubt Paul’s motives or his desire to do what is right, but we can all agree that desires do not always connect with deeds. What is it we can do to help bridge the gap, to help us fulfill our desires for good, to grow in what God wants and expects of us? To the church in Philippi, Paul offered two helpful, inspired, God-approved suggestions. First, there are certain things about which we can …

Jesus taught the multitudes from Peter’s boat. He then commanded him to “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” Peter answered, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.” The resulting catch was large enough to fill and almost sink two boats. There is a sense in which the Lord has told us to let down our nets in teaching. We need to begin with our own children in our own homes and in Bible classes. God told Israel: Therefore you shall lay up these words of mine in your heart and in your soul, and bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall teach them to your children, speaking of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. And you shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates, that your days and the days of your children may be multiplied in the land of which the Lord swore to your fathers to give them, like the days of the heavens above the earth. (Deuteronomy 11:18-21) Christian fathers need to follow Paul’s directive. “And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4). Christ’s followers must make disciples of …