Fear is a common experience for everyone. Some fears are a product of our imagination and do not come true. Yet, there are fears that are real, and we should know fear. Stormy weather can produce fear. Tornados, hurricanes, flooding and high winds bring fear when one is in their path. The twelve disciples boarded a ship on the Sea of Galilee with Jesus, then at sea a tempest, a violent storm, rose and the twelve feared they would be destroyed by drowning (Matthew 8:23-27). Jesus was asleep, trusting God with full faith. The twelve woke Him, similar to our praying to God through Christ, and Jesus calmed the storm, and all was well. Almost every time I meet a driver talking on a cell phone, I want to grit my teeth until the driver is past me. For in a second that person can be distracted and fail to act, or react, properly and quickly, and an accident could result, possibly involving my wife and me. Another fear that is common is the fear of men. This fear is not new. A common one was the Pharisee and chief priests who feared the people (Matthew 21:46). They wanted to take Jesus, which was wrong, but they feared the people would exact some kind of punishment against them, so they delayed until Judas came along (Matthew 26:14-16). Judas loved money and power so much that he did neither feared Jesus nor God, and thus betrayed Him. Still another is illustrated

The word “if” is a small word, yet it often carries strong meaning and is a point at which there is a need to make a decision. Following the word “if” is what the decision needed is about. The definition of “if” that should be noted is “that something may or may not happen.” All have used it at one time or another. For example, “if it does not rain today I will mow the yard” or “if it rains I will get in something from the store that is needed.” So we can see that the word “if” is important in our life. The Bible, God’s Word, uses “if” often so let us examine it for a moment. Cain brought an offering to God from the fruit of the ground. That was not what God had directed so God did not accept it, and the countenance of Cain fell, that is he was badly disappointed (Genesis 4:3, 5). Cain had thought that God would accept what he decided to offer. However, God did not condemn Cain, saying, “Why art thou wroth? And why is thy countenance fallen? If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? And if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door” (Genesis 4:6-7). Cain was here told that he had made a mistake, but if he did well, obeyed God, then he would be acceptable. Cain was given a choice, and as we know he chose the wrong road. Elijah provides another example.

Jesus said, while on the cross, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do…” (Luke 23:34). This passage seems to confuse some, and others interpret it to include more people than it should. So let us take a look at it.     First, one needs to understand that this event took place under the Old Law, and not under Christianity. The Christian Law came into effect forty days after Christ’s resurrection on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2). The renting (or tearing down the middle) of the veil in the Temple (Luke 23:45; Matthew 27:51) is understood to mean doing away with the Old Law and replacing it with Christ Law, or Christianity. Therefore, any actions of Jesus on the cross are not governed by Christian Law, even though such acts were good.     Secondly, when Jesus said to one of the thieves beside him on a cross being crucified at the same time, that the thief would be with him that day in paradise (Luke 23:43), it does not mean that action is for any other person, or anytime since then. Today we are under the Law of Christ, or Christianity. Taking the thief to paradise took place under the Old Law.     Third, it is not stated that Jesus forgave “them.” Even though it may be speculation, it should be reasonable to believe that he would not ask God to forgive anyone unless he had first forgiven them. The stated action is that he asked God,

The early church at Rome gives us a glimpse into some of the things going on for Christians. Catacombs outside the city were started by Christians for burial places, and were quickly expanded into a maze of rooms, and tunnels, and stairs between levels. The Christians refused to be cremated as was common among the poor Romans who could not afford a burial place, or a funeral.     As we know, Nero was infamous for blaming Christians for everything imaginable, and persecuting them. He was not the only one however.     To avoid persecution, and find safety, Christians would resort to the catacombs for refuge. The catacombs thus became both a burial place and under the deadly dangers of persecution, they could meet everyday with each other, but where worship by the whole congregation was likely one day a week in order to avoid being discovered. However, persecution did come even into the catacombs and the Christians had to close existing entrances and dig new ones known only to them to maintain secrecy.     Further information comes from Pliny the Younger, governor of Bithynia, who wrote the Emperor asking what he should do with the Christians in his area. In his letter, reportedly, he described the guilt of the Christians, as “to assemble on a certain day before daybreak, and sing ahymn to Christ as God, and to reaffirm that they would not enter into any wickedness, or alter their work or fail the trusts committed to them.” Thus seen

Preaching is delivery of God’s Word in segments, or a bit at a time, even though each delivery should be as complete as required to relate God’s Word and understanding of it for the subject, and for those wanting salvation. Paul warned, “…for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ” (Galatians 1:10). And he further stated, “But I certify you brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ” (Galatians 1:11-12). Today, the revelation of Jesus Christ is the New Testament, and the whole Bible. Is there any better example for preachers today than Paul? If we say, “Yes, Jesus,” then listen to Jesus, “He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak” (John 12:48-50). Thus, it is that all church leaders, and the preacher, should follow the conduct of Paul and Jesus, in word and deed. Preaching can thus be defined as delivering the Word of God. Many churches today

The early church was led by elders (Acts 20:17) appointed under strict rules (1 Timothy 3:1-7). Requirements of being blameless, vigilant, sober, of good behavior, patient and not greedy for money suggest that leaders should be models–role models–for members and for non-members. Therefore, anything in one’s past that can bring criticism, or turn persons away, is not good, and such men should not be chosen. It does not make any difference whether the event is valid according to the Bible or not for it is the affect on people that matters. And all of these should be taken into account. Perfection is not likely, yet some things have an undesirable impact on Christians and non-Christians, for most people view church leaders as special people, thus the role model need. Church leaders should never be consciously guilty of prejudice. They should never sort people, especially members. Sorting, categorizing, grouping members, should not be, for each member is equal to all other members. Paul publicly rebuked Peter for prejudice (Galatians 2:11-14). Elders were given instructions: “Take heed therefore unto your selves, and to all the flock” (Acts 20:28). Peter adds more, saying, “The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither

The Lord’s Supper, or communion, is partaking of our Lord’s body and blood that he shed, gave, on the cross of Calvary, the perfect sacrifice for our sins. It is a commemoration of his death on the cross, and a reminder of what Christians are about. Jesus established it just before his death on the cross. “And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. And He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; For this is my blood of the New Testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins” (Matthew 26:26-28). The apostle Paul said, “For I have received of the Lord that which I also delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner also he took the cup, when He had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. For as oft as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord’s death till He come” (1 Corinthians 11:23-36). How often is “as oft”? Jesus

There are two settings for prayer; private and public. Prayer is speaking to God through Jesus Christ, for he is our Mediator with God (Hebrews 12:24) and our High Priest (Hebrews 9:11; 8:1). Private, individual, prayer is encouraged by Jesus. “But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut the door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly” (Matthew 6:6). Jesus often prayed in private. “And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when evening was come, he was there alone” (Matthew 14:25). Jesus found that being alone with God had rewards, and took of them often. Shouldn’t we? Surely. For this is a time when we can relate our every care to God, including those cares that we would not speak of in public. God is there and he listens when we pray through Christ. Private prayer is private, and remains so unless God has answered prayer in an obvious manner, or the one praying relates it to others. The apostle Peter said, “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you” (1 Peter 5:7). God does care about his people. The apostle Paul stated, “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts

Bible classes scheduled at church came about under the idea of expediency, a license used by church leaders. Scheduled Bible study classes are a good key function of the church to increase knowledge of God’s Word, for growth of the members into more mature Christians, to train teachers, preachers and to train for evangelistic work for Christ, all of which is good for individual Christians and for the church as a group. God wants, godly, alert and dedicated elders who function as shepherds for the church. Bible classes are a good function to achieve that responsibility. It is a good place to bring members into knowing who it is that they believe, what they believe, namely God and his Word, and to come to love God and serve him. Thus Bible classes are a good place to more thoroughly teach God’s Word. Bible classes are also a good place to reveal false teachings, where teachers who do not fully support what they are teaching from the Bible, or who distort God’s Word, can be stopped. It is also a good place to show that such things as instant change, effortless change, tapping the subconscious, eliminating all fear and others like things are false. Of a salesman such idea would be called snake oil. Paul stated, “Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do” (1 Timothy 1:4). Surely The DaVinci Code and the Left Behind series, and other

Christians need to remember that they are also members of the family of God. Paul says, “For ye are the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:26). Through belief and obedience in Christ Jesus we become children in the family of God. John 1:12 tells us, “But as many as received him, to them gave he the power to become the sons of God…” (John 1:12). Since Christians are children in the family of God, the question comes, “Shouldn’t we be obedient to the Father of that family?” And since Christ is described as “the Word of God” in Revelation 19:13, we have the Word of the Father that we should obey or risk his correction and even punishment of being cast out of that glorious family. On the other hand, what a wonderful situation it is of being children in the family of God. Wouldn’t his children always bring glory for him and praise for him through Christ’s church–his kingdom, “To the general assembly and church of the first born [Christ is the first born, resurrected]…” (Hebrews 12:23). Thus Christians are members of Christ’s church. Then in the same chapter we have, “Whereby we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved” (verse 28a). Again, “Who hath delivered us [Christians] from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son” (Colossians 1:13). Translate refers to Acts 2:47b, “And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved,” and again

The apostle Paul tells the Corinthians, “For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ” (2 Corinthians 11:2). Two things are seen: one, espouse you to one husband is an analogy that uses the idea of a bride that is espoused to one husband, and two, chaste refers to purity, referring to a bride that is pure by the rules, and the desires, of the husband, that being in this case Christ as that one husband, and his word, as the requirements for his bride. In Ephesians Chapter 5, Paul uses human marriage as a symbol of Christ and the church. Paul says, “…even as Christ is the head of the church: and is savior of the body” (verse 23). Again, “Husbands love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it” (verse 25). “For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones” (verse 30), which shows how close and much the church is integral to Christ, and how much in likeness the church is to be like him. Then each Christian being a part of his body, understands that he or she can be rejected when in conflict with Christ. The conduct will then be what the Christ the head instructs Christians and the church to follow. These surely describe the bride that all men want, and it describes the

There can be no doubt that the church is the body of Christ according to the Bible. “He [God] put all things in subjection under his [Christ’s] feet, and gave him to be head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him that filleth all in all” (Ephesians 1:22-23). Paul repeats it in Colossians 1:18, “And he [Christ] is the head of the body, the church.” It is understood that Christ therefore makes the body full with his character, being and the direction of both him and God. It can be said that anything less causes a sickness in that body, and that anything more imposes unnecessary weight on that body. The head rules the body. Look at yourself. Your head rules your body. Surely it is so. Thus with the church, the Head rules the body, or Christ as Head of the church, which is his body, is ruler over it. But what of the local leaders of the church? As servants of Christ their leading echoes the directions of the Head of the church, Christ. They shepherd the church into the words and directions of Christ, keeping it in obedience to Christ, the Head of the church unto the glory and praise of God. When those leaders must make a hard decision, a ruling, it will echo and coincide with the words, directions and teachings of Christ. Those leaders are representatives of Christ, and high quality representatives will accurately reflect their leader,

So who owns the church? One can hear the phrases “my church” or “our church” and these are good when they indicate a church at a particular location to which that person or persons are members. If the phrases indicate actual ownership, as in “it is mine,” then those persons are wrong. First then, who is the church? It is Christ and the members of the church, you and me, on earth. Though God owns everything on earth, the building is not the church, and the building might be considered the only thing about the church that its leaders and members can consider as owning. Even that is questionable since it is likely that the church treasury, Christ’s money, bought the building. Then it is more his than that of the members.  Christians make up the church on earth. Christians do not own each other but God and Christ do. Christ owns us and is the ruler of Christians. He bought and paid for us on the cross. Christians are his. His church is his body (Ephesians 1:20-23), Paul telling us, “Which he (God) wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: and hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head