The life of Jesus is the most exceptional and interesting life ever lived. We are able to view the life of Jesus through the Gospel accounts written by Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. While God ultimately authors all four Gospel accounts, there are different things in each account (2 Timothy 3:16–17). While the first three (the Synoptics) have a great deal of similarity among them, Bible students have correctly noticed that John approaches the life of Christ from a different angle. John’s Gospel record was probably the last one to be written of the four. He neither includes information about the miraculous birth of Jesus, nor does he record the Sermon on the Mount. Likewise, he does not mention the temptation of Jesus in the wilderness. Yet, John’s Gospel account is not inferior in any way to the others. His audience and emphasis differs from the Synoptics, but he gives a glorious picture of the life of Christ, nonetheless. The Occasion of Writing Near the end of the first century when John wrote his Gospel record, there was false doctrine concerning Jesus entering the church (2 Peter 2:1). Elsewhere John had warned Christians to test the things they were taught so they did not deviate from the truth (1 John 4:1). Some, who were never genuine converts, snuck into the church and were teaching false doctrine about the identity of Jesus (1 John 2:18–19). This group of false teachers was known as the Gnostics (or the knowing ones). They claimed

There are few people who are unacquainted with the suffering of Job. The New Testament writers expected their readers to know of Job’s suffering and his patience (James 5:11). As we read the forty-two chapters that make up the book of Job, many of our questions about suffering are answered and many others are not. We know that Job was an upright and righteous man (Job 1:1). We also know that Job tried to do the right things in life in relation to his fellow man and his God. Still, Job did not escape suffering; suffering still found its way into the life of righteous Job. Though we may walk in the light of Christianity, suffering will find its way into our lives as well, and we should be prepared (1 John 1:7). Many have claimed that the book of Job provides answers to human suffering that it does not. Still, others have failed to read and learn the lessons that can be derived from the book. Let us notice a few things that the book of Job clearly teaches us about suffering in order to be better equipped when the hour of trial comes upon us. God Has Confidence in Humanity While Job probably never knew about the events in the first chapter of the book, we do. We know that Satan walked into the presence of God and was looking for something to do (Job 1:6–7). God expressed confidence in Job and offered him up to be tested

Jesus commissioned His disciples to take the good news about Him into all the world (Mark 16:15). We should be going out in our daily lives and sharing the Gospel with those with whom we come into contact and making the most of the opportunities given to us. We should be on the proactive side of things going into our community to engage those who are lost in sin. Still, there are times when the community comes to us. We are blessed to have many visitors who frequent our assemblies on Sundays and Wednesdays. We should give careful thought and attention to how we interact with our visitors. It is our hope that every visitor will eventually obey the Gospel and become a member of God’s church, and so, we should do all that we can to help that become a reality. We need to be sure that we serve as good advertisements for the Lord since we are His representatives to a watching world (2 Corinthians 3:2; 5:19–20). When visitors come to our assemblies, they watch us and take notice. We must not do anything that would be a stumbling block to their coming to Jesus, but instead, we should do everything to draw them closer to Him. Be Kind and Welcoming I once heard a football coach say, “First impressions are last impressions.” Though people can change their initial impression they leave with us, it is true that we rarely forget our first encounter with someone. When visitors come to

The Bible tells us to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17 KJV), but if we’re honest, we must admit that we don’t always feel like praying. Some days we are worried about many things and have several important tasks at hand, and that causes us to pray bold prayers (Hebrews 4:16). Maybe we are sick, or someone close to us has a serious procedure coming up, and so, we “pray fervently” (Colossians 4:12). However, there are other days when we find ourselves just going through the motions of everyday life. We are busy with school, work and our jobs, and besides praying over our meals, we don’t feel any urgent need to pray. What should we do in those times? Here are five ways to pray even when we don’t feel like praying. 1. Acknowledge Your Dependence The problem with not being in the “mood” to pray is that we fail to recognize that we are always dependent on God. To go a day without prayer is to pretend that we can make it without Him. Paul said that we live and move and have our very existence in God (Acts 17:28). The truth is, without God, we cannot do anything (John 15:5). We might fall into the trap of thinking that we only need God for the big things and can manage the rest. However, we should take an honest inventory of our lives and see that everything we have and maintain comes from God (James 1:17). All that we

There are some subjects in the Bible about which we possess a great deal of information. Then, there are other things on which the Bible touches only briefly. The secret things belong to God, but we should be sure to read and to wrestle with the things revealed to us (Deuteronomy 29:29). Some subjects are hard to understand, and though we wish for more information on other topics, we must be content with what God has told us (2 Peter 3:16). The subject of angels is a fascinating one in the Bible. Many people are aware of their mention in Scripture, but sometimes our view of angels is more informed by popular theology and cinema than the Word of God. We need to allow Scripture, even in its brevity, to inform us concerning the topic of angels. How angels look, function and serve are things we can only learn by listening to God’s Word. Let us notice a few things the Bible does and does not say about angels. Myths and Misunderstandings About Angels Angels are mentioned in 34 of the 66 books in the Bible (17 in the Old Testament and 17 in the New Testament). While some people mistakenly think that angels are mainly an Old Testament topic, they are mentioned in several important places in the New Testament, especially associated with the life of Jesus (Matthew 28:2-7; Luke 2:13-14; Acts 1:9-11). When many people think of angels, they think of cute babies or maybe even having a female

The thrust of Christianity is to make disciples (Matthew 28:18-20). The basic meaning of a disciple is someone who follows another, such as, regarding Christianity, disciples follow Jesus Christ. When Jesus came into first-century Palestine, He encouraged people to follow Him and become His disciples (Matthew 4:18-22). From the first century until now, Christians have been persuading the world to follow Jesus. Sometimes, in our efforts to convert our family and friends, we may fail to tell them the difficulty of being a Christian. While Jesus was interested in the souls of men, He sometimes taught hard things that turned people away from Him (John 6:60-66). Christianity is not for the lukewarm or those who are wishy-washy in their commitments. To follow Jesus involves commitment (Matthew 16:24). Jesus seemingly even talked some people out of following Him if they were not willing to count the cost (Luke 14:28). So, we may not want to follow Jesus if any of the following are true for us. Comfort and Ease Are High Priorities Following Jesus is sometimes extremely uncomfortable. On one occasion, a man attempted to follow Jesus, and Jesus impressed him with the difficulty of discipleship. “As they were going along the road, someone said to Him, ‘I will follow you wherever you go.’ And Jesus said to him, ‘Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head’” (Luke 9:57-58 ESV). This man wanted to follow Jesus, and our

Much of the religious world today views the role of the prophet as a fortune teller. However, in biblical times, the prophet was more of a preacher who spoke to his own times with an occasional message for the distant future. In our English Bibles, there are what we refer to as five major prophets (Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, and Daniel). Then, there are twelve books we call the minor prophets (Hosea through Malachi). The words “major” and “minor” have nothing to do with these books’ importance, but they indicate the length of the books. The twelve books we call the minor prophets are significantly shorter in length than those called the major prophets. Nevertheless, there are still major lessons in the twelve smaller prophetic books. Since these books are tucked near the end of our Old Testament, it might be easy for us to overlook them, but we must be sure that we do not ignore them. If we do not dig into these books, we will fail to reap the rich treasure that is stored within their pages. Every one of the minor prophet books is named after the prophet who carried the message recorded in the book. Still, we should not think of these books as autobiographical in any sense. There is relatively little information given about the men who served as prophets because their primary task was to give the people a message from God (cf., Jonah 3:2). In this article, I want to cover a

The first human institution given to us from God was marriage. We read of God performing the first wedding ceremony between Adam and Eve (Genesis 2:18-24). The Bible ends with the marriage between Christ and the church being described in magnificent detail (Revelation 19:9; 21:1-3). In between the first marriage and the final marriage, we have a Bible filled with practical wisdom for those of us who are married. The Bible fully furnishes us with everything we need to live a godly life (2 Peter 1:3). We must be willing to turn to the Scriptures to be directed in every area of our lives. When it comes to marriage, we realize that God instituted it, but sometimes we may fail to see that He also gives us the necessary tools to have successful and thriving marriages. Here are seven tips from Scripture for husbands and wives to keep in mind so their marriages will be all that God desires for them to be. #1: Leave and Cleave (Genesis 2:24) Husbands and wives must practice the leave and cleave principle so their marriages will not be destroyed or fractured by outsiders, including their family members. God described husbands and wives as “one flesh.” While the one flesh terminology in Genesis 2:24 relates to the sexual relationship, it involves much more (1 Corinthians 6:16). A husband and wife become their own family apart from others and must separate from others so they can grow close together. Leaving and cleaving is often a

The Bible is a book about faith for the faithful. In fact, faith comes by hearing the Word of God (Romans 10:17). On occasion, the word faith is thrown around loosely by people in religion. We may speak of being a person of faith. We might hear someone say that he or she has faith in God. While all of those are good sentiments to express, faith is much more than a verbal declaration that we are religious and believe in God. Faith is described as the victory that overcomes the world (1 John 5:4). This also tells us that those who do not have faith will be overcome by the world. Therefore, we should be clear about what the Bible means when it speaks of faith. In both the Old and New testaments, the idea of faith involves belief in the mind, but it is much more than this. Faith is to trust and to be willing to obey God because we believe that He will do what He promises (Acts 27:25). Faith leads to victory for those who possess it and exercise it in a way consistent with Scripture. Notice a few important things the Bible says on the subject of faith. We Cannot Please God without Faith Hebrews 11 has long been considered the great Bible chapter on faith. The word faith is mentioned or implied in just about every verse of the chapter. We are told in Hebrews 11:6 that without faith it is impossible to

Studies found that we speak on average about 7,000 words each day. That is 49,000 words each week and 2,555,000 words each year. We need to use our speech to communicate, but with so many words coming out of our mouths, we should also be careful. The Bible has much to say about our tongues and how we use them. There are positive uses of the tongue in which the Bible encourages us to engage. There are negative uses of our tongues against which the Bible warns us. Here are a few warnings about our tongues from Scripture that we would be wise to heed. Our Words Will Be Judged On one occasion, Jesus’ opponents accused Him of casting out demons by the power of Satan (Matthew 12:24). Jesus showed them the inconsistency in their logic, and then, He issued one of His strongest warnings about the way we use our tongues (Matthew 12:25-35). Jesus said, “I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned” (Matthew 12:36-37 ESV). Based on Jesus’ declaration that our words will play an important factor in the Judgment, we should be careful. We will appear before God and will be judged for everything we have done, whether it was good or bad – including our speech (2 Corinthians 5:10). We may not give much attention to the words we speak,

The Bible tells us when Jesus was on earth, He did the things that pleased His Father (John 6:29). Jesus did not come to earth to do His own will but instead to do the will of His Father Who sent Him into the world (John 6:38). Paul went as far as to say that Jesus is subject to the Father in Heaven (1 Corinthians 15:27-28). Jesus is divine, equal to the Father, possesses all authority, and yet, the Bible tells us that He submits to the Father (Matthew 28:18; John 10:30). Though we may not understand all of the intricacies of the Godhead and the relationship between its members, we can appreciate that Jesus is willing to submit in some way to God as His Father. In our society, submission is often looked down upon, but the Christian must remember that it is a part of being a disciple of Jesus Christ. Jesus surrendered some of His divine advantages while on earth so He could fulfill the role of Mediator and Redeemer (Philippians 2:5-8). Jesus’ willing sacrifice and submission led to His eventual exaltation, and the same will be true for us. Submission is an essential part of the servant life that Christians are called upon to live. Christians are to submit to each other in the fear of God (Ephesians 5:21). Wives are to submit to their husbands as they would to the Lord Himself (Ephesians 5:22; Colossians 3:18). Servants are to be submissive to their masters (Titus

The Bible fully equips Christians for every good work. The Bible provides us with the wisdom and the instruction to live for God in an ungodly world. When we read Scripture, we should remember that it teaches us how to be saved and how to spend eternity with God. However, the Scriptures also help us to navigate daily life. Scripture provides guidance and direction for every relationship that we have on Earth. This is true when it comes to relationships in our homes (Ephesians 5:22-32), our relationships with employers (Colossians 3:22-4:1), how we treat our enemies (Matthew 5:43-48) and also how we are to interact with our government (Romans 13:1-7). While it is true that the Bible will not spell out for whom we should vote or whether we should vote at all, the Bible does give us principles that guide in those areas. When it comes to how we as Christians should respond to our government, God is more concerned with making sure we do not ruin our influence and misrepresent Him than He is about anything else. Moreover, as we read the New Testament, we find Christians in an environment where the government was often hostile to them, and yet, they were still able to do the will of God and to be faithful (Revelation 2:10; 12:10-11). No matter what is going on in our world, whether we approve of the current government or not, we must be sure to allow God’s Word to guide our lives in

The Bible is one book, but within its pages, there are sixty-six different books. A uniting theme runs throughout the pages of Scripture: the salvation of man and the glorification of God. It is interesting to observe the variety that the Holy Spirit chose to include within the canon of Scripture. There are books with 150 chapters or divisions like the Psalms. One can read long prophetic discourses like Isaiah or historical books like Genesis that covers thousands of years. We encounter the four inspired biographies of the life of Jesus (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) when we turn our attention to the New Testament. Next, we read the historical book of Acts, followed by the epistles to churches and individuals. While many of the epistles contain double-digit chapters, there are several books of shorter length. We should keep in mind that the length of a book in the Bible says nothing of the book’s importance. No book is in the Bible by accident. Every book that we have was breathed out by God and preserved through His amazing providence (Isaiah 40:8; 2 Timothy 3:16-17). There is only one single-chapter book in the Old Testament, the book of Obadiah, but there are four in the New Testament. I want to briefly cover the shortest books in the New Testament and impress upon us why they are worthy of our attention and study. Philemon: Forgiveness and Reconciliation The book of Philemon contains just 25 verses. Paul wrote this letter to his

The Bible opens with the account of creation in Genesis 1. We are told that God made all of the land animals on day six (Genesis 1:24-25). God showed His creative power and genius by how and what He created. We look at the animals that exist and our world, and we are reminded of the amazing power of God. Animals should be observed because of the appreciation we gain for the aesthetic detail God provided in the world. Still, animals can teach us other lessons. God used the animal world throughout Scripture to teach His people important lessons. A fish swallowed Jonah to humble him and change his heart (Jonah 2:1-10). The plague of frogs was used to teach Pharaoh that there was a power higher than him, and he needed to submit (Exodus 8:5-15). Jesus pointed to the birds of the air so His hearers would know there was no reason to fret and worry about their daily provisions because God provides (Matthew 6:26-27). One of the animals appearing most frequently in Scripture is the donkey. The word appears in both the Old and New testaments more than 100 times. Some of the mentions of donkeys are incidental and tell us about how much property someone possessed (Genesis 12:16). Other times, they were mentioned as the spoil of a town was cataloged (Numbers 31:34). Yet, if we read the Bible closely enough, we will see various scenes in Scripture connected to donkeys that teach us eternal lessons we

The Bible is comprised of 66 books. There are 39 books in the Old Testament and 27 in the New Testament. Since we are under the New Covenant of Jesus Christ, it makes sense that we would spend the majority of our time in the New Testament (2 Corinthians 3:6; Hebrews 9:15-17). The Old Law is described as old and vanishing away as the New Testament was being completed (Hebrews 8:8-13; cf., Jeremiah 31:31-34). We are not under the Law [i.e., the Law of Moses], but instead, we are under grace (Romans 6:14; 7:1-6).* The New Testament is more glorious than the Old Testament (2 Corinthians 3:7-18). With all of that said, we still do rob ourselves of a great blessing if we do not regularly study and read from the Old Testament Scriptures. Here are several things that the Old Testament continues to provide for Christians today. The Old Testament Provides Hope Paul said that the Old Testament was written for our learning so that we, as Christians, through patience and comfort of the Scriptures, might have hope (Romans 15:4). Many Bible students incorrectly assume that after reading the Old Testament, one is left feeling hopeless, but this is the opposite of what the Holy Spirit communicates through Paul. The Old Testament is a letter filled with hope because it points beyond itself. The Old Testament Scriptures anticipated a time when God would bring about a New Covenant (Jeremiah 31:31-34). The Old Testament is hopeful in that God’s kingdom

There are many reasons to love and appreciate our God. However, one of the primary reasons to adore and to praise God is because He always keeps His promises. God is a God who cannot lie (Numbers 23:19; Titus 1:2). It is impossible for God to lie, and therefore, we can place our hope firmly in Him (Hebrews 6:18). The truthfulness of God should motivate God’s people to see Him as the trustworthy God who always delivers whatever He says He will. When God promises us something, we can be sure that it will come to pass. In this article, let us notice a few of the promises that God made to us and allow our faith to be bolstered as we contemplate His execution of those promises. God’s Abiding Presence One of the things that God promised His people is His abiding presence. When Joshua replaced Moses, God promised Joshua that He would be with him wherever he went (Joshua 1:9). We read later of Joshua’s success, which was no doubt based upon the presence of Yahweh (Joshua 21:43-45; 24:29-31). When Jesus came into the world, it is said He would be called Emanuel, which means God with us (Matthew 1:23). As Jesus’ earthly ministry was ending and He was preparing to ascend back to the right hand of God, He promised His disciples that He would always be present (Matthew 28:20). The promise of Jesus’ continual presence was not just true for those present when He uttered those

The global life expectancy rate for women is 75 years old, and for men, it is 70 years old. In the United States, life expectancy for women is 81 years old, and men are expected to live to 77 years old (Duffin). Of course, these are just statistics, and they cannot guarantee us anything. Even with the current estimated figures given by experts, we must still conclude with James that our lives are a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away (James 4:14). The question we have to answer is, “How are we going to spend our lives?” One thing Jesus never wanted to do was waste time. He knew the night was coming when no one could work, and so, He made the most of the time He had (John 9:4). Many times, people speak of things they would do if they knew it was their last day on earth. They speak of places they would go, things they would buy and deeds they would perform. It is impressive that Jesus knew exactly when His last day on earth would be, and He did not waste it. As His time on earth was nearing its end, Jesus spent His final moments doing all the good that He could. As with everything else when studying the life of Jesus, we learn how our lives are to be lived well (1 Peter 2:21). If we examine the way Jesus spent His last days on earth, it will

Christianity is a religion in which we are commanded to grow (2 Peter 3:18). We cannot remain stagnant and be pleasing to God. We come into Christ as babes, but we must grow and progress from that point (1 Peter 2:2). We will not be pleasing to God if we remain in spiritual infancy for too long (Hebrews 5:11-14). We need to graduate from the milk of the Word so we can produce the fruit that God desires we cultivate. Therefore, it is wise for us to take inventory of our spiritual progress (Proverbs 27:23). We should look to ourselves and determine if we are stuck in neutral or pressing toward the mark (Philippians 3:14). As it relates to spiritual growth, our speed is not as important as our direction. We may not be growing at the rate of some, but we should not compare ourselves to others. God wants us to examine ourselves, develop our talents and grow in our faith. The question is, “How can we do this?” How can we fulfill the command to “grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ”? Read Scripture Daily How many times have you heard this in sermons and Bible classes? We need to be reminded constantly that we are to be a people of the Book. We will not grow close to God apart from growing close to His Word. While we have often heard of the need to read the Bible daily, how many times have we failed to

Jesus is the most influential person in the history of the world. There have been more books written about Him than anyone else in history. When we read the Gospel accounts, we see why Jesus left such a large imprint on the world. He went around doing good for all people (Acts 10:38). He taught, healed, died and rose from the dead as proof of His deity (Romans 1:4). One of the things often overlooked in the life of Jesus is the influential people who were involved in His life. Many of the most influential people in Jesus’ life were women. These women’s lives should be noted and studied. Jesus was as equally interested in women as He was in men throughout His ministry. Although Jesus selected twelve men to be His apostles, He had women serve near Him throughout His earthly ministry. Mary: His Mother The Old Testament foretold that a virgin would conceive and bring forth a Son Who would be called Immanuel (Isaiah 7:14). The New Testament tells us that Mary, who was espoused to Joseph, is the one who gave birth to Jesus (Matthew 1:16-25). She was special enough to be chosen by God to give birth to the Son of God. The angel Gabriel spoke to Mary telling her that she had been chosen for this great task (Luke 1:26-35). She was willing to undergo ridicule and mockery in order to do God’s will. We are not surprised to later read of her Son experiencing

We often spend a lot of time talking about the identifying marks of the church – rightfully so. We need to continue to preach and to teach about the singular nature of the church (Ephesians 1:22-23; 4:4). We also need to teach our friends and our neighbors about how one is scripturally added to the church that belongs to Jesus Christ (Acts 2:36-41, 47). Likewise, we should be sure to emphasize the way the New Testament church worships and her opposition to denominationalism (John 4:24; 17:20-21). However, after we have searched the Scriptures and learned how to properly identify the church and to become members of it, we should see what God expects from those of us who are members of the church. Faithfulness God wants His church to be faithful in all things. Jesus promised persecution to His followers, but He also promised a reward for those who endure until the end (Matthew 10:22). God is faithful to us and has fulfilled all of His promises. This should motivate us to respond in faithfulness to Him (1 Corinthians 10:13). It is easy to begin going in the right direction, but faithfulness means that we continue to go in the right direction until the end. The churches in the first century were told to be faithful even in the face of death, and they would receive a crown of life (Revelation 2:10). If we are faithful, we can expect to receive the same (2 Timothy 4:8). Faithfulness involves doing the

The Book of Hebrews teaches us that in the past, God spoke to His people in various ways (Hebrews 1:1). Sometimes God spoke to individuals directly (Genesis 17:1). Other times, He communicated with priests through the Urim and Thummim (Exodus 28:30). There are instances when God appeared to His people in dramatic visions (Isaiah 6:1-4). However, Moses is described as having had a unique relationship with God (Exodus 33:11). God declared that He spoke with Moses in a way He did not speak to anyone else in the Old Testament (Numbers 12:5-8). After Moses’ death, there was never another prophet like him who knew the Lord face to face (Deuteronomy 34:10-12). While there is much to appreciate about Moses’ relationship with God, there are several important lessons we learn from the very first encounter that Moses had with God. Moses grew up in the house of Pharaoh, but eventually, his faith led him away from Egyptian prestige and into the wilderness (Hebrews 11:24-27). While Moses kept the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, he came to Mount Horeb, and Moses was never the same (Exodus 3:1). He met God at the burning bush for the first time and learned some lessons that every one of us must learn as well (Exodus 3:1-6). God Is Holy Moses stood before the burning bush, which was a manifestation of God’s presence. There, Moses was told, “…Do not draw near this place. Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you stand is

The history of the holiday we know as Mother’s Day is interesting. Anna Jarvis originally pushed for the public recognition of mothers after the death of her mother in 1905. She received some financial backing and then celebrated the first Mother’s Day at her church in West Virginia in May 1908. She later wanted to see the holiday added to the national calendar, claiming that male achievements dominated the holiday calendar. In 1914, President Woodrow Wilson signed a measure officially establishing the second Sunday in May as Mother’s Day. Anna Jarvis originally thought of the day for personal celebration between mothers and families. She envisioned visiting the church with one’s mom and wearing a pink or red carnation flower if one’s mother were living and white if she were deceased. However, once the holiday became a national observance, the commercial market took over. The florist and card companies turned Mother’s Day into a new source of income. Jarvis was angry. She spent the rest of her life childless and never married. She was arrested once for attempting to disturb a Mother’s Day observance. It didn’t turn out as she hoped, and she used all her time and wealth for the remainder of her life trying to get the holiday removed from the American calendar. I’m not sure the way she behaved would have pleased the mother she sought to honor. The Bible introduces us to the role of the mother in the home and the honor the position deserves long

We cannot go without regular Bible study if we desire to be spiritually strong and healthy. Spending time in the Word of God will help us to not only come to know God better but to live the kind of lives that God requires of us. The inspired message of God was given to the prophets and apostles, and it has been preserved for our benefit (Ephesians 3:3-5). We are to desire the sincere milk of the Word so we can grow (1 Peter 2:2). The Bible is of no value to us until we study its contents and allow its teachings to become a part of us. We would greatly benefit if we found good role models to follow in the area of Bible study. If we could see the habits and practices of those who faithfully and diligently studied the Word and incorporate them into our own lives, we would be more capable and well-rounded students of the Bible. The Bible not only tells us it is from God (2 Timothy 3:16-17) and that we should meditate on its contents (Psalm 1:2), but the Bible also provides us within its pages good examples of Bible students. Let us learn some valuable lessons from several great Bible students in the Bible. Joshua: A Lifelong Studentof the Word (Joshua 1:8) When Moses died, after leading God’s people for forty years, Joshua took his place (Joshua 1:1-4; Deuteronomy 31:1-8). As Joshua was entering his position as the new leader of Israel,

Our time is limited. We live in a busy world with plenty of demands on our time, and we are constantly being pulled in different directions. No matter how much we need to get done, there are only twenty-four hours in each day and seven days in each week. Paul taught Christians to redeem the time (Ephesians 5:16; Colossians 4:5). As Christians, we need to make the most of our time and use it in service to our Lord. One thing that each Christian should build into his or her schedule is visiting. There are several individuals who we should visit: sick and shut-in members, wayward members, visitors and new converts. However, for the purposes of this article, let us consider a few reasons why we should visit the sick and shut-in members. Jesus Expects It In one of Jesus’ famous judgment parables, He spokes of sheep and goats. Jesus said that both groups would be surprised on the Judgment Day. One group will be surprised because they did not realize they were serving Jesus. Another group will be surprised because they did not realize they were neglecting service to Jesus (Matthew 25:31-46). Jesus spoke of being sick, and those who are righteous visited him while the wicked did not (Matthew 25:36, 43). We should remember that whenever we visit the sick, those who are in nursing homes or in other facilities where they cannot get out, we are serving the Lord (John 12:26). If we love Jesus, we will

Few things are as misunderstood as preaching. Some view preaching as the main event in the worship service each week. Others view it as the preacher’s attempt to keep the congregation awake for thirty to forty minutes. The truth is that preaching is neither entertainment nor a spiritual pep rally where the preacher tries his best to keep the congregation interested in the things of God. Biblical preaching is not boring preaching. However, many people today often listen to preaching expecting things the Bible never promises to deliver. Others have their expectations too low when it comes to preaching. They are content to hear a few stories, several jokes and very little if any Scripture expounded at all. God chose to communicate His will through preaching (1 Corinthians 1:21; Titus 1:3). Preaching is important to God, and therefore, it should be important to us. Those who preach will be held to a higher account by God and should be sure they remember to do what pleases God (James 3:1). What should we expect from preaching? Let us be sure our expectations are God-centered and not manmade (1 Thessalonians 2:13). Expect to Hear the Truth Preaching is supposed to communicate the truth of God’s Word (John 17:17). Paul told Timothy to preach the Word, which contains the truth from God (2 Timothy 4:2). Many times, we focus on style and personal preference (which are not bad in and of themselves) to the extent that we forget to consider whether we heard the truth

Every day that God allows us to enjoy on earth should ignite gratitude in our hearts (Psalm 118:24). However, there are some days that are highlighted as more significant than others. Certain days contain events that set them apart as special and unique (Luke 5:26). Here are a few days in Scripture that are important. The Days of Creation (Genesis 1:1-31) The days of creation are special because they are the days that begin all days. Without the six days of creation, there would be no other days to acknowledge. As God created everything and declared it very good, we see God manifested His power (Nehemiah 9:6). God’s work during the days of the creation week differentiates Him from the false idols in the ancient near eastern world (1 Chronicles 16:26). The days of creation are extraordinary because, in six days, God created this beautiful world with precision and design that we have come to know and love (Psalm 33:6; 33:9). While some want to credit matter with the world’s existence, Scripture tells us that in the first six days, God spoke everything into existence (Exodus 20:11; John 1:1-3). The First Day of the Week(Matthew 28:1-8;Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 16:2) The Sabbath Day was a day of holiness and prominence in the Old Testament, but there is a decisive shift concerning the Sabbath in the New Testament (Deuteronomy 5:12). The first day of the week is the day Jesus rose from the dead (Matthew 28:1-8). After Jesus’ resurrection, the first

The special group of men Jesus commissioned to carry the Gospel to the world after His ascension were known as the apostles. The word apostle means one sent out with a message. Every apostle was a disciple, but not every disciple was an apostle. The apostolic office was a special role fulfilled by those selected by Jesus Himself (Mark 3:13-14; Acts 1:24-25). Jesus prayed all night before He selected the men to serve in this capacity (Luke 6:12-13). Some of these men were trained and given power during Jesus’ earthly ministry as they saw Him teach, heal the sick, cast out demons and raise the dead (Matthew 10:1; 11:4-5). After Jesus’ return to Heaven, the apostles were guided into all the Truth, and they laid the foundation of God’s household (John 16:13; Ephesians 2:19-20) There are some apostles that we do not know much about. We are only told their names. There are other apostles about whom we know a great deal because Scripture allows us to look into their lives before and after Jesus called them (e.g., Peter, John, Paul). It is thought-provoking to consider the various types of men Jesus called to be His apostles. Let us notice a few things about some of the lesser-known apostles based on what we find in Scripture. As His disciples today, be encouraged that He can use us just like He used them. Matthew: The Tax Collector Turned Evangelist Before Jesus called Matthew (also known as Levi; cf., Mark 2:14) to

When Solomon became King of Israel, his father instructed him to faithfully follow and obey his Lord (1 Kings 2:1-4). Solomon reigned as King of Israel for forty years, though he did not always follow the advice of his father. Yet, as long as he did, he was successful (1 Kings 11:41-43). When God invited Solomon to ask God for whatever he desired as king, he asked for wisdom. God granted Solomon’s request and gave him wisdom that would far surpass any king before or after him in Israel (1 Kings 3:5-12). Solomon’s wisdom was on display through his problem-solving skills (1 Kings 3:16-28), building projects (1 Kings 5-9) and the various proverbs and songs that he spoke (1 Kings 4:32). Fortunately for students of Scripture, Solomon’s wisdom did not die with him but is preserved for us through many of his writings, especially the Book of Proverbs. Notice a few important lessons about wisdom that we learn from the wisest king in Israel’s history. Fear the Lord (Proverbs 1:7, 9:10) While our world equates wisdom with reading many books, a high IQ and lots of degrees, Solomon painted a different picture. Solomon said the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and knowledge (Proverbs 1:7; 9:10). The wise person is one who understands his or her role in relation to the Creator of the universe. True wisdom realizes that God is the omnipotent and omniscient One before Whom we should bow and honor. Solomon received his wisdom

The Bible not only teaches that God exists but that God exists in a triune nature. The triune nature of God is often described using terms like the Godhead or the trinity. The point is that there are three distinct individuals or beings who possess the divine nature. This doctrine is ignored by some, confusing to many and a challenge to all. The Bible says in several places that there is one God (Deuteronomy 6:4; 1 Corinthians 8:6). Yet, the Bible also teaches that within that oneness, there are three individuals: God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. The oneness of God is not contradicted by the fact that three different beings possess a divine nature. There is an uncompromised unity among the three members of the Godhead, though each member contains His distinct individuality. We must humbly approach this subject, realizing that there are some things about God and His nature that we will not know on this side of eternity (Deuteronomy 29:29; Job 11:7). Nevertheless, we also must acknowledge that God has given us enough information in Scripture to speak with some definiteness on His triune nature. The triune nature of God is not a side issue that should only be engaged by specialists. The nature and identity of God is to be studied, known and appreciated by all of God’s people. In this article, I want to briefly point out some things about each member of the Godhead that will hopefully help us

We live in a world where work is important. There is nothing wrong with work. Before sin entered the world, God gave Adam a job to do (Genesis 2:15). We are told to do all of our work as if we are working for the Lord (Colossians 3:23-24) and to do our work with all of our might, giving it our absolute best (Ecclesiastes 9:10). The Bible places a responsibility on us to work if we want to survive. Far too many people simply want a handout. Yet, for all that the Bible says about work, it says as much about the value of rest. While none of us should want to rust out from inactivity, we should be careful not to burn out from overdoing it. Notice the theme of rest as it runs throughout the Scriptures. God Rested and Israel’s Sabbath The creation week was a busy week for God. In six days, God created everything in the heavens and the earth, and it was all very good (Genesis 1:31). On the seventh day, God rested from His created work (Genesis 2:1-2). The seventh day was blessed and sanctified because God chose to rest on the seventh day. This set a pattern to be followed later by the Israelites. God was not tired or worn out from creating the world, but He did stop creating (Psalm 121:3). God could have kept creating if He wanted to, but He chose to stop. God was not losing power or running out of ideas. He

There is no doubt that evangelism is important. Jesus told His disciples to go everywhere teaching the Gospel (Mark 16:15). Jesus left His disciples a plan of how they were to begin in Jerusalem and eventually cover the entire Roman Empire with the Gospel message (Acts 1:8). The early church was successful with its evangelistic efforts from the start as they began in Jerusalem (Acts 2:37-41). Before long, they had as many as 5,000 men who were converts. When the church was scattered through persecution, Christians continued to teach the Word and successfully won people to Christ (Acts 8:4). Even in one-on-one encounters, we read of people being taught the truth and obeying the Gospel (Acts 8:26-40). I am convinced that many of us want to be better at evangelism. We want to share the truth about Jesus and not live in a state of constant guilt over our inability to reach some people with the Gospel. Sometimes, we are simply unsure of how we should go about talking to people about Jesus. In a culture that is drowning in “political correctness,” it is hard to know what will offend some people. Also, it seems that as secularism rises, fewer people are interested in the truth about Jesus Christ. Though the odds seem stacked against us, all hope is not lost. The more we know about the Bible, human nature and the times in which we live, the better prepared we will be to talk about Jesus (1 Chronicles 12:32).

Everyone who lives will undergo hard times. Even those of us who are Christians are not exempt from trying times and unfortunate circumstances. Jesus told His disciples that tribulation was guaranteed, but He had overcome the world (John 16:33). Paul told Timothy that all people that live godly will suffer persecution (2 Timothy 3:12). There are general hardships that we face just because we are human. Then, there are specific things to happen to us because we are Christians. While we know these things will come into our lives, the area in which we often need help is how to cope with them. How can we survive when we are in the storms of life? How can we keep from giving up when surrender seems like the easier option? See the Benefits of Adversity As Christians, we must remind ourselves that adversity can be used to bring about good in our lives. This does not mean that the adversity itself is good, but God can use all things to bring about what is best for His people, and He does (Romans 8:28). The world may frown upon any type of discomfort or inconvenience, but as the people of God, we must remember that it is often through hard times that the best things come about. Paul told the Romans that tribulation produces patience, patience produces experience and experience produces hope (Romans 5:2-5). When we are going through hard times, we should be asking, “What is it that I can learn

God is a God of order and structure (1 Corinthians 14:33). God in His infinite wisdom and knowledge has always provided guidance and direction for His people. From the time of creation, God has led mankind and given commands and prohibitions for the overall good of humanity. While God possesses all authority and He is the One who governs the world, He often delegates authority to other individuals (Psalm 62:11). God has chosen certain people or groups to represent Him as the leader to His people. Ungodly leadership can be a hindrance to the work of the Lord. We should be thankful for godly leadership whenever we see it (Isaiah 9:16). In both the Old and New testaments there are examples of godly leadership and how it benefited the people of God. We should study the lives of godly leaders from the past, appreciate the godly leadership provided in the present and be sure to continue to develop godly leaders for the future. Moses: Leading through the Wilderness Moses is no doubt one of the greatest leaders the world has ever seen. Moses knew God in a unique way that few others ever have (Exodus 33:11; Deuteronomy 34:10). Though Moses grew up in the palace in Egypt, there came a day when he surrendered the pleasures of Egypt in order to stand with God’s people (Hebrews 11:24-27). God called Moses at the burning bush near Mount Horeb to lead God’s people out of Egypt and into Canaan (Exodus 3:1-10). Though Moses

The world in which we live has always been dark. Since the fall of humanity in Genesis 3, sin has been in the lives of people and destroying those who submit to sin rather than God. Though we may look at our current times as intensely dark and sinful, the things being done today should come as no surprise to the student of Scripture (2 Timothy 3:13). Jesus told His disciples that they were to be different. He wants us to shine our lights in this world so God our Father will receive the glory (Matthew 5:16). The idea of shining our light is normally taken to simply mean Christians should be good examples. Most certainly, Christians should be examples, but in what ways? How can we practically let those around us know that this world is not our home? I believe there are practical ways that we can let our light shine, which will catch the attention of those around us (Philippians 2:14-16). Near the end of 1 Thessalonians, Paul gave several commands that we should take to heart and adopt. When we examine 1 Thessalonians 5:16-22, I think we get a clear picture of how we can shine our light in a world that desperately needs it. Always Rejoice (1 Thessalonians 5:16) Paul told the Thessalonians to rejoice evermore (1 Thessalonians 5:16 KJV) or to rejoice always (NKJV). This does not mean that Christians never experience sadness. We do, but our overall disposition should be one of constant

The Bible tells us that Christians will have persecution (2 Timothy 3:12). Christians will face tribulation and hardship (Acts 14:22). Christians will experience hatred from many people who are antagonistic towards Christianity. Yet, even though there are many difficulties Christians must endure, we must remember that we are victorious. In fact, the Bible says we are always led in triumph through Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 2:14). As long as we are in Jesus Christ, we win in the end. Knowing that we will ultimately end up as victors should shape the way we live our lives now. In Romans 8, Paul wrote what could be called the most victorious chapter in the New Testament. He detailed our relationship to God, sin and trials, and he concluded that we are victorious. Notice a few of the amazing points that he made in this chapter and allow them to enrich your life and your faith. We Are Not Condemned Paul began the chapter by saying, “There is no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1). This verse should ease our burdens and relieve our hearts. While earlier in this letter Paul said that all have sinned (Romans 3:23) and that the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23), we are without condemnation. How can this be? Those of us who have obeyed the Gospel of Jesus Christ are now the servants of righteousness (Romans 6:16-18). In Christ, God forgives all of our sins. He does not hold them against us (Acts 22:16).

The New Testament tells us that Satan is a roaring lion who walks around seeking to devour God’s people (1 Peter 5:8). Christians are clothed with the armor of God as they seek to be on guard against the wiles of the devil (Ephesians 6:11-17). The more we know about the way Satan operates, the better off we will be in our efforts to withstand him. As Christians, we should remember that we do not have to fear the devil because Jesus has destroyed him and the power he possesses (Hebrews 2:14-15). However, he can still exercise power and influence over us if we yield to him. Paul dealt with several issues in 2 Corinthians: defending his apostleship, discussing the contribution for Jerusalem and following up on some of the things he wrote in 1 Corinthians. Also within 2 Corinthians, Paul spoke more about Satan and how he works than he did in any of his other writings. The Corinthian congregation is known for the problems it had. Like every congregation, there were issues with which to deal, and these two letters reveal the guidance he gave to them. By looking at the warnings he gave the Corinthians and also the way in which he described Satan’s work, we can be better prepared to resist the devil ourselves. We Know How Satan Works In 2 Corinthians 2, Paul wrote about receiving the one who had repented. Paul told them that they should realize the punishment he received was enough (2

Isaiah was a prophet of God who preached in the 8th century B.C. He has been called the most majestic of the prophets as he wrote in eloquent and captivating language to his audience. He preached in Jerusalem during the reign of several kings (Isaiah 1:1). While Isaiah’s preaching differed from preaching today, because his message was inspired by God, there are still many similarities. Likewise, we must base our preaching upon the inspired Word of God (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 1 Peter 4:11). There truly is nothing new under the sun (Ecclesiastes 1:9). Isaiah was a powerful preacher in his own era, and his messages still have application today. As we read through the Book of Isaiah, notice some of the major themes in his preaching and some of the things he would say if he were still preaching today. There is a sense in which as we read this book, apply it to our lives and share it with others that although he is dead, he is still speaking (Hebrews 11:4). God Doesn’t Accept All Worship Sometimes people have the mistaken idea that God will accept whatever they offer to him as worship regardless of how it is presented. Isaiah would tell people today just as he told them in ancient Israel that this is not true. Isaiah rebuked people for offering up worship to God while mistreating people who are made in His image (Isaiah 1:11-15). God would not continue to accept their worship while they did not

Worship was an important aspect of the church’s life from the outset of the church’s existence. We read of the new converts in Jerusalem continuing steadfastly in the apostle’s doctrine, fellowship, breaking of bread and prayers (Acts 2:42). We read of singing also being something in which the early church engaged as a part of its worship together (Ephesians 5:19). We are to follow the pattern set by the inspired apostles and prophets of the New Testament and acknowledge that the things they wrote to us are the commandments of the Lord (1 Corinthians 14:37). In Acts 20, Luke gave insight into a 1st century worship service. As Paul and his traveling companions came to Troas, we see a window into a worship service (Acts 20:4-6). There are lessons for those of us who live in the 21st century both to learn and to apply. Prioritizing the Assembly The Christian’s daily life is to be one of sacrifice (Romans 12:1-2). The Sunday assembly is not all that there is in living for Jesus, but it is an important part of life in Christ. We are encouraged in the assembly (Hebrews 10:24). We teach and instruct each other (Colossians 3:16). We pray for each other (1 Thessalonians 5:25). We know that Paul desired to be in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost so he could preach to a large number of Jews (Acts 20:16). Yet, Paul and his companions waited seven days in Troas in order to worship with the brethren

If you made a list of the most unread books from the Bible, I believe the Song of Solomon would make the list. How many sermons have you heard on this book? I have only preached once from it directly in three and a half years of full-time work. How many Bible study quarters have been dedicated to studying this book? It is just as inspired as the other 65 books that make up our Bible (2 Timothy 3:16-17). It is a part of all of the things that pertain to life and godliness that God wants us to have. There are many reasons why people stay away from the Song of Solomon. Some are put off by the book because of how often and plainly it discusses the sexual intimacy between a husband and a wife. One of my professors in grad school said, “We should not be afraid to talk about sex. There is an entire book in the Bible about it. However, we should not get carried away; there’s only one book in the Bible about it.” While his quote is somewhat exaggerated (i.e., Proverbs), the point is we cannot shy away from anything God has given us because it makes us uncomfortable. It is said that there were more commentaries written on this book by those who lived after the apostles than on any other book in the Old Testament. People in the past were very interested in this book and wrote about it a lot.

When Jesus was on earth, he always did the things that pleased His Father (John 8:29). Jesus never committed a sin, and He never did anything that was not consistent with the will of God in Heaven. As Jesus was preparing to die on the cross, He said, “I have glorified you on earth, having finished the work that you gave me to do” (John 17:4). Jesus’ earthly mission was complete with His death, burial, resurrection and ascension. However, Jesus did not cease working completely when He returned to Heaven. The Bible depicts Jesus as being at the right hand of God in Heaven and being very active. Being at God’s right hand denotes authority, power, prestige and royalty equal to God. Jesus at God’s right hand is further evidence of His reigning and ruling as Christ (Acts 2:36; 5:33). Notice the work that Jesus does at the right hand of God. Interceding for Christians In Romans 8, Paul spoke of the victory Christians enjoy since we are free from condemnation in Christ (Romans 8:1). God’s Spirit indwells Christians, by which they can call God their Father in a special way that is foreign to the rest of the world (Romans 8:14-15). Paul goes on to say that God justifies us through Christ and that Christ is at God’s right hand, making intercession for us (Romans 8:33-34). The writer of the Book of Hebrews wrote that He “always lives to makes intercession for us” (Hebrews 7:25, ESV). Jesus entreats God

Many fathers have taken their children on a boat to fish and to enjoy some time together. There is something calming about being on the water and away from the stresses and the problems of daily life. As one climbs into a boat or a ship and pushes off from land, there is time for enjoyable conversation, memories made and lessons learned. Throughout Scripture, God gave His people lessons from individuals on ships. In both the Old and New testaments, major Bible lessons are taught from ships as God dealt with sin, worry, faith and discipleship. Notice a few lessons we learn from some ships in Scripture. God Punishes Sin & Extends Grace As the wickedness of man increased in the earth during the days of Noah, God decided to cleanse the world with a global flood (Genesis 6:5-13). He was going to punish the rampant evil that was taking place and start over with a new family. As God was planning to destroy the wicked, He was not going to punish the righteous as well. God does not punish the righteous for the deeds of the wicked (2 Peter 2:9). Noah found “grace” (“favor,” ESV) in the eyes of the Lord (Genesis 6:8). The first ship in Scripture shows us that God will punish evil but that He also extends grace. It is interesting to observe the same Hebrew word used for ark in the account of Noah is the same word used for the basket in which Moses’ mother placed

Health and fitness are popular these days. There is a lot of discussion about the need to exercise and be careful about what we eat. The Bible speaks of the need to treat the body properly. Paul noted that there is some profit to bodily exercise (1 Timothy 4:8). It is a good thing to take care of our physical temple and to do what we can to be good stewards of the bodies that God has given to us (1 Corinthians 4:2; 6:19-20). However, let us be sure that as we eat, exercise and diet for the good of our physical bodies that we do not neglect what is most important—our spiritual lives (2 Corinthians 5:1). God has a workout plan of His own, and we would be wise to heed the things that He says so we will be spiritually fit for the kingdom of God (Luke 9:62). Stretch for Heaven It is always wise to be sure to stretch before engaging in any athletic activities so that a muscle is not pulled. Those who start running or lifting weights without first stretching run the risk of hurting themselves. Paul speaks of reaching forth for the things that are before (Philippians 3:13 KJV). The ESV says, “straining forward to what lies ahead.” The word translated reaching forth or straining forward (epekteinomai) means to stretch forward, try hard or to strain toward something. As we labor toward our heavenly inheritance, we should be sure to stretch for it and

The Bible is a book full of answers. The Bible furnishes us with everything we need for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3). However, the Bible is also a book filled with questions. Sometimes there are questions asked by those who feel as if God deserted them (Psalm 10:1). God had a host of questions from Job when He appeared out of the whirlwind after Job complained about His absence (Job 38:1-3). The Pharisees had questions for Jesus, and Jesus had questions for them that they would not answer (Matthew 21:23-27). The Book of Genesis is the book of beginnings. The word Genesis means beginning. As we open our Bibles to the first book in the Bible, we read of the beginning of the world, the beginning of God’s fellowship with man, the beginning of sin and the beginning of questions. There are several important questions asked in the first few chapters of Genesis that still need to be answered today. Where Are You? After Adam and Eve sinned and disobeyed God, He confronted them in the Garden (Genesis 3:1-6). God came to them, but He was not welcomed by Adam and Eve. Instead, they hid from Him as their guilt consumed them (Genesis 3:7-8). God asked Adam, “Where are you?” God was not asking Adam where he was because He could not find him. God created the Garden and all of its intricacies (Genesis 1:31). God knows everything and does not need anyone to teach Him anything (Romans 11:33-36). So, why

The children of Israel were on their way from Egypt to Canaan, but they had some hurdles to overcome along the way. They had problems with faith, food and also with foreign enemies. One of the problems that Israel faced in the wilderness was a king named Balak, who hired a prophet named Balaam to curse them. God forbid Balaam from cursing the people of Israel. He was only allowed to bless them (Numbers 23:1-12, 25-26). Once Balaam realized he could not curse the children of Israel with his speech, he attempted to seduce them to sin with the Moabite women (Numbers 25:1). The Israelites gave in to Balaam’s temptation and joined themselves to idols and displeased the Lord (Numbers 25:2-3). God had Moses kill all of those who engaged in this idolatrous behavior in order to remove the wickedness from their midst (Numbers 25:4-5; cf. Exodus 20:2-6). After God had shown His hatred for the fornication of Israel mixed with idolatry, an Israelite man, Zimri (Numbers 25:14), marched into the camp one day with a Midianite woman, Cozbi (Numbers 25:15). Not only did the Israelite come in with the forbidden woman, but he also did it in the sight of all of the people, and no one did anything about it (Numbers 25:6). It was at this time that Phinehas, the grandson of Aaron, rose up with a javelin and killed them both (Numbers 25:7-8). God blessed Phinehas and turned away from His anger toward Israel (Numbers 25:10-15). While

When Jesus spoke of the rich man and Lazarus, He wanted to drive home some important points about eternity (Luke 16:19-31). Sometimes the question is asked whether Jesus was telling a parable. Since Jesus never used parables to teach something false, it does not matter if the account of the rich man and Lazarus is a parable. The information contained therein is truth. Jesus records no words from Lazarus, but there is an exchange between the rich man who was in torment and Abraham, the great patriarch. Notice the lessons we can learn from a man who was suffering in torment. Some Pleasure Is Temporary The rich man begged for relief as he was tormented in the flame, but Abraham assured him that he had good things in his lifetime (Luke 16:24-25). Moses was wise enough to know that the pleasures of sin only last for a season (Hebrews 11:25). Most people are getting their reward in this life, and they will be disappointed in eternity (Matthew 6:2, 5, 16). If we gain the entire world and lose our souls, we have made a horrible exchange. The man in torment teaches us that pleasure is not a bad thing, but we should seek the lasting pleasures that continue in eternity. Death Seals Our Fate While in torment, the rich man could not pass from torment to paradise to have his tongue cooled (Luke 16:26). There is no such thing as purgatory, baptism on behalf of the dead or any other

Whenever we make up our minds to do the right thing, there will always be temptations to compromise and go in the wrong direction. It sometimes seems as if the moment someone decides to go on a diet, there will be advertisements for that person’s favorite, unhealthy meal displayed everywhere. When a young person chooses to walk in the light and remove bad influences from his or her life, those old friends will call and text with more fervor and frequency than ever before. The Book of James assures us that the temptation we face does not come from God (1:13). Furthermore, every person is tempted, and temptation occurs when our passions and lusts are not properly addressed (James 1:14). If our temptation is not properly addressed, it will lead to sin, and our sin will lead to spiritual death (James 1:15). Thankfully, we are not left to ourselves as to how we need to approach temptation. Jesus was tempted in every way we are, and He overcame temptation without committing a sin (Hebrews 4:15). The more we can study the way the devil approached Jesus and how He defeated those temptations, the better equipped we will be to overcome temptation in our own lives. Properly Managing Our Diet After Jesus had fasted for forty days and forty nights, the devil approached him, knowing that He was hungry (Matthew 4:1-2). He challenged Jesus’ identity by saying, “If you are the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread”

Personal Bible study is often encouraged, and we will give account of ourselves to God. No one can study the Bible for us (Romans 14:12; 2 Corinthians 5:10). However, there are benefits that can be gained from studying the Scriptures communally. The Jews in Berea collectively searched the Scriptures to verify what Paul and his companions taught was the truth (Acts 17:11). Paul told the church at Colossae to read the letter he wrote to them but also to swap letters with the Laodiceans and read the letter he wrote to the Laodiceans (Colossians 4:16). The letters to the seven churches of Asia were to be read by congregations together and circulated (Revelation 2–3). The purpose of Bible classes in the local church is to teach the Bible and to engage the mind of those present so they might study further on the ideas discussed in the classes. A forty-five-minute class cannot do justice to every passage studied, but it can whet the spiritual appetite of those present and cause them to plunge deeper into the verses discussed when they study on their own. From studying Engraving Heavenly Truths material on the Devil, Sin, and Hell, I learned several important lessons, three of which I would like to share in this article. The Devil is Defeated The Devil is the enemy of the human race, and he seeks to devour us all and to cause us to lose our souls (1 Peter 5:8). The Devil is described as the “prince of

Jesus gave the apostles permission to bind and to loose the things that were already bound and loosed in Heaven (Matthew 16:19; 18:18). When we read of things done and taught by the apostles in the New Testament, we know that the things they were doing had been approved by God. As Paul and Barnabas established churches throughout the first century world, they went on a second missionary trip and established elderships in every city where formerly a church had been begun (Acts 14:23). The New Testament gives us the qualifications for men who would serve as elders in the church (1 Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9). It is God’s design that each congregation have or develop qualified men who can serve in the eldership and lead God’s people. The denominational world has a false idea of what makes a man an elder or a pastor. The words for pastor, elder, bishop, overseer and presbyter are sometimes used interchangeably throughout the New Testament to refer to the same office in various ways. Each word emphasizes an aspect of an elder’s function. Yet, sometimes Christians forget who elders are and what their work entails (2 Peter 1:12-13). Notice three things the New Testament teaches about those who serve as elders. Elders Watch for Our Souls “Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would

The religious world is misinformed about the practice of baptism. There are some who believe the method of baptism does not matter. Those who deny that there is a scriptural method to be employed argue that one can be sprinkled, have water poured on his or her head or be immersed; many people declare that it is simply a matter of choice. The Bible does not leave the method of baptism open for our personal interpretation and judgment. The word translated “baptize” in our English translations means to dip, plunge or immerse. Paul described baptism in the New Testament as a burial (Romans 6:3-4; Colossians 2:12). When the Ethiopian Eunuch was baptized, it is said that both he and Philip went down into the water and both came out of the water. This would be unnecessary if water was simply going to be sprinkled or poured on his head (Acts 8:38-39). When John was baptizing in Aenon, it is said he chose this location because there was much water there (John 3:23). Still, there are those who believe baptism plays no part in whether a person is saved. Individuals who advocate this view of baptism claim that one is saved at the point of belief or verbal confession and may be baptized later, but they say baptism has no bearing whatsoever on one’s salvation. The New Testament contradicts this view of baptism. Jesus said those who believe and are baptized are saved (Mark 16:16). It is at the point of